The New Population Problem: Why Families in Developed Countries Are Shrinking and What It Means (The Penn State University Family Issues Symposia Series)

This book is based on the presentations and discussions from a national symposium on "Creating the Next Generation: Social, Economic, and Psychological Processes Underlying Fertility in Developed Countries," held at the Pennsylvania State University in 2003. The papers address some of the antecedents and consequences of the recent steep declines in fertility in developed countries from different theoretical and disciplinary angles. While fertility rates are still high in some less-developed parts of the world, the new population problem with many countries in Europe, Asia, and North America is declining fertility. With fertility decline comes a reshaping of the population pyramid. The topic of fertility decline is interesting not only at the level of the individuals and couples, but also at the level of the societies that must come to grips with their long-term implications.Divided into four Parts, the text:\*looks at contemporary trends in U.S. fertility, thus setting the stage for the entire volume;\*discusses social and cultural values and attitudes;\*analyzes fertility decisions in different countries; and\*focuses on the possible long-term consequences of current fertility trends for individuals, families, and societies. This Interdisciplinary Volume Brings Together Researchers In The Fields Of Demography, Psychology, Economics, And Sociology, To Explore The Current Trend Of Women In The Developed World Electing To Have Fewer, Or No, Children. Although Fertility Rates Remain High In Some Less-developed Parts Of The World, The Decline In Fertility Noted In The Developed World Is Producing A Reshaping Of The Population Age Pyramid. In These Countries, The Percentage Of The Population In Midlife Or Old Age Is Growing, Whereas The Base Of Young People Whose Production Activities Typically Support The Older Generation Is Becoming Smaller And Smaller. In The United States, These Effects Are Mitigated By An Influx In Immigration; However, Each Country Reacts Differently To The Prospect Of Immigration Because Of The Issues Of National Identity That Are Affected. This Population Shift Is Therefore Of Interest At The Level Of The Individuals And Couples Who Are Making Fertility-related Decisions, As Well As At The Level Of The Societies That Must Come To Grips With Their Long-term Implications.--jacket. Pt. I. Contemporary Patterns And Trends In U.s. Fertility : Where Have We Come From, And Where Are We Headed? -- 1. Is Very Low Fertility Inevitable In America? : Insights And Forecasts From An Integrative Model Of Fertility / S. Philip Morgan And Kellie Hagewen -- 2. The Role Of Nonmarital Births In Sustaining Replacement Fertility In The United States / R. Kelly Raley -- 3. When The Rule Applies : Commentary On Is Very Low Fertility Inevitable In America? / M. Belinda Tucker -- 4. Time And Money : Market Work, Nonmarket Work, Gender Equality, And Fertility / Suzanne M. Bianchi -- Pt. Ii. How Do Social And Cultural Values And Attitudes Shape Fertility Patterns In The Developed World? -- 5. How Do Attitudes Shape Childbearing In The United States? / Jennifer S. Barber And William G. Axinn -- 6. Childbearing Decisions : Can Attitude Measures Play A Role In Causal Modeling? / Shelly Lundberg -- 7. Attitudes And Low Fertility : Reflections Based On Danish Twin Data / Hans-peter Kohler -- 8. Attitudes, Beliefs, And Childbearing / Duane F. Alwin -- Pt. Iii. How And Why Is Fertility Tied To Marriage -- Or Not? -- 9. Partnerships & Parenthood : A Comparative View Of Cohabitation, Marriage, And Childbearing / Elizabeth Thomson -- 10. Partnership Stability And Marital Outcomes In A Representative Uk Sample / Sara Jaffee -- 11. The Importance Of Gender Relations For Understanding Low Fertility And Single Motherhood / Harriet B. Presser -- 12. The Changing Partnership Context Of Parenthood : Where Do Researchers Go From Here? / Nancy S. Landale -- Pt. Iv. What Are The Long-term Consequences Of Current Fertility Trends For Individuals, Families, And Society? -- 13. Children As Private And Public Goods : Implications Of Fertility Trends / Christine Bachrach, Rosalind King And Anita Yuan -- 14. Creating The Next Generation : Whose Responsibility? / Lynn White -- 15. The Concentration Of Reproduction In Low-fertility Societies : The Case Of The United States / Daniel T. Lichter And Jillian Wooton -- 16. The Future Of Low Fertility / William G. Axinn, Christine Bachrach, Jennifer S. Barber, Daniel T. Lichter, S. Philip Morgan, Elizabeth Thomson And Lynn White -- 17. Understanding Low Fertility : The Impact Of Life-course Competition On Fertility Behavior In Developed Nations / Tanja St. Pierre And Jacinda K. Dariotis. Edited By Alan Booth, Ann C. Crouter. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. This book is based on the presentations and discussions from a national symposium on "Creating the Next Generation: Social, Economic, and Psychological Processes Underlying Fertility in Developed Countries," held at the Pennsylvania State University in 2003. The papers address some of the antecedents and consequences of the recent steep declines in fertility in developed countries from different theoretical and disciplinary angles. While fertility rates are still high in some less-developed parts of the world, the new population problem with many countries in Europe, Asia, and North America is declining fertility. With fertility decline comes a reshaping of the population pyramid. The topic of fertility decline is interesting not only at the level of the individuals and couples, but also at the level of the societies that must come to grips with their long-term implications. Divided into four Parts, the text: *looks at contemporary trends in U.S. fertility, thus setting the stage for the entire volume; *discusses social and cultural values and attitudes; *analyzes fertility decisions in different countries; and *focuses on the possible long-term consequences of current fertility trends for individuals, families, and societies