• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.113-136
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• 2010

Low fertility has become quite commonplace worldwide, and Europe has experienced below replacement fertility for several decades. In addition, lowest-low fertility, defined as period total fertility rate below 1.3, has rapidly spread in Europe during the 1990s and is likely to expand further. After the turn of century, lowest-low fertility started spreading in Eastern Asia. Korea's TFR of 1.19 in 2008 is lower than most European countries, although it is higher than the Hongkong(1.02) and Taiwan(1.09). The purpose of this paper is to examine the socioeconomic determinants of lowest-low fertility in Korea. In doing so, this paper discusses the effects of female labour force participation, labour instability on family formation and fertility. The data includes female labour force participation rate, unemployment rate, age at first marriage, and total fertility rate from 1980 to 2008. First, the economic recession hindered young people's economic independence and propensity to marry. Married couples were also depressed with uncertainty toward the future and avoided to have children. Second, the growth in female labor force participation had a negative impact on fertility, under the low level of compatibility between women's work and childrearing. Moreover, this paper argues that the rising cost of children including public and private educational costs is thought to be the main reason of the recent low fertility in Korea. Policy implications and some comments on population policies are also presented in the final section.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.161-183
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• 2009

지난 30년 동안 출산율은 대부분의 국가에서 감소했다. 그리고 전 세계 인구의 절반 이상은 대체수준 이하의 출산력 수준에 이르고 있다. 합계출산율이 1.5 혹은 그 이하의 출산력 수준을 보이는 국가의 수도 계속 증가하고 있다. 저출산의 확산과 함께 합계출산율 1.3 이하를 의미하는 초저출산 현상도 크게 주목받고 있다. 앞으로 저출산이 멈출 것인지, 출산율이 회복될 것인지 혹은 지속적으로 감소할 것인지에 대해서는 아무도 쉽게 답할 수 없다. 그럼에도 불구하고 최근 산업국가들이 보여주고 있는 저출산 기조는 상당 기간 지속될 것으로 보는 견해가 일반적이다. 이 글은 저출산 및 초저출산 현상을 어떻게 설명할 것인가에 대한 이론적 논의를 검토하고, 이러한 논의가 한국 사회의 인구학적 변화에 어떤 함의를 지니고 있는가를 제시하고자 한다. 이를 위해 우선 저출산을 설명하는데 유용한 이론적 틀을 검토하고자 한다. 이들은 제2차 인구변천이론, 합리적 선택이론, 위험이론, 양성평등 이론, 선호이론, 젠더와 시장이론 등을 포함한다. 이를 기반으로 본 연구는 한국사회의 저출산 현상을 설명하는 연구들의 특성과 시사점 등을 검토하고자 한다.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.141-159
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• 2009

우리나라는 2002년 초저출산 사회(합계출산율 1.3명 이하)로 진입한 후 합계출산율이 평균 1.2 이하인 상황이 지속되고 있다. 이러한 초저출산 상황이 향후 지속된다면 인구고령화의 사회 경제적 여파가 예상보다 클 것으로 전망된다. 과연 이런 초저출산 추세가 일시적인 것인지 아니면 앞으로 계속 지속될 것인지에 대한 검토가 필요하다. 이에 본 연구는 최근 저출산함정 가설(low fertility trap hypothesis)을 제기한 Lutz, Skirbekk and Testa(2006)의 논의를 소개한다. 그들은 크게 인구학적, 사회적, 그리고 경제적 요인과 같이 3가지 요인으로 구분하여 저출산함정의 존재 가능성을 논하고 있다. 그렇다면 과연 우리나라는 저출산함정에 빠져 있는가? 먼저 고령화 가설의 경우 출생아수와 고령화간 부(-)의 관계가 나타나고 있으며, 최근 이상자녀수가 2.2~2.3명이지만, 실제자녀수는 그 수준을 하회하고 있어 이상자녀수가설도 지지된다. 상대소득가설의 경우, 류덕현(2007)의 연구결과에 따르면 연령 계층 간 상대소득이 출산율에 정(+)의 효과를 보여 상대소득가설이 지지되는 것으로 나타났다. 물론 제한된 영역에서 완벽한 검증이 이루어진 것은 아니지만, 적어도 출산율이 대체수준까지 회복되기에는 어려운 상황이라는 점을 발견할 수 있었으며, 이는 우리나라의 저출산 문제가 얼마나 심각한 수준인지를 재확인시켜준다.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.67-95
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• 2007

이 연구의 주된 목적은 IMF 외환위기를 계기로 사회경제적 차별출산력의 양상이 어떻게 변화하였는가를 파악하는 것이다. 이 연구는 2003년 전국출산력조사 자료를 활용하여 20-49세 기혼 여자의 총출생아수와 1998년 이후의 출생아수를 비교분석하였다. 또한, 분석대상을 1997년 이전에 결혼하였거나 재혼한 부인들과 1997년 이후 처음 결혼한 부인들의 두 집단으로 구분하여 출산력 수준과 출산행태를 비교함으로써 IMF 외환우기 이전과 이후의 변화양상을 파악하고자 시도하였다. 총출생아수에 대한 분석 결과. 부부의 사회경제적인 조건과 출산수준은 대체로 뒤집어진 J 자형의 관계를 유지하는 것으로 밝혀졌다. 즉 사회경제적 지위가 높아질수록 출산수준이 낮아지는 경향이 발견되었다. 그러나 사회경제적 지위가 가장 높은 집단은 바로 밑의 집단 보다 출산수준이 상대적으로 높았다. 그런데, 최근의 출산수준은 이러한 사회경제적 차별출산력과는 뚜렷하게 대조적인 양상을 나타냈다. IMF 외환위기 이후 출산수준 감소의 폭은 기존의 출산수준과 정비례하는 방식으로 미루어졌다. 출산수준이 높은 집단일수록 급속한 출산력 저하가 이루어졌으며 출산수준이 낮은 집단에서는 상대적으로 변화가 완만하였다. 그 결과, 최근의 출산수준은 중상층에 해당하는 사회경제적 지위를 지닌 집단이 가장 높고, 다음이 최상위 집단, 그리고 하위 집단의 순으로 바뀌었다. 이러한 경향은 부부의 교육수준, 직업, 종사상 지위, 주관적 계층에 따른 최근 출산력의 변화양상에서 일관적으로 나타났다.

• Proceedings of the Population Association of Korea Conference
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• 2006.12a
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• pp.131-152
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• 2006

This study examines the causal mechanisms of low fertility and regional differentials in Korea. Utilizing the 2005 census and the 2005 vital statistics, and labor statistics at the regional level, major variables were calculated for administrative units of 234 'Gu's, 'Si's and 'Gun's. Gender equity orientation, labor market insecurity and family formation were hypothesized as key factors of recent decline in Korean fertility. This study first presents four maps of gender equity orientation, labor market insecurity, family formation and fertility. Then ANOVA and path analysis were carried out in an effort to generalize the causal mechanisms. Results of analysis reveal that gender equity orientation has played a central role in the second fertility transition in Korea. In metropolitan regions, however, labor market insecurity is found to have a significant influence on the level of family formation and fertility. Family formation also turns out to be an important intermediate variable of fertility.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.677-692
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• 2018

The total fertility rate of Korea was 1.05 in 2017, showing a return to the 1.08 level in the year 2005. 1.05 is a very low fertility level that is far from replacement level fertility or safety zone 1.5. The number may indicate a low fertility trap. It is therefore important to predict fertility than at any other time. In the meantime, we have predicted the age-specific fertility rate and total fertility rate by various statistical methods. When the data trend is disconnected or fluctuating, it applied a nonparametric method applying the smoothness and weight. In addition, the Bayesian method of using the pre-distribution of fertility rates in advanced countries with reference to the three-stage transition phenomenon have been applied. This paper examines which method is reasonable in terms of precision and feasibility by applying estimation, forecasting, and comparing the results of the recent variability of the Korean fertility rate with parametric, non-parametric and Bayesian methods. The results of the analysis showed that the total fertility rate was in the order of KOSTAT's total fertility rate, Bayesian, parametric and non-parametric method outcomes. Given the level of TFR 1.05 in 2017, the predicted total fertility rate derived from the parametric and nonparametric models is most reasonable. In addition, if a fertility rate data is highly complete and a quality is good, the parametric model approach is superior to other methods in terms of parameter estimation, calculation efficiency and goodness-of-fit.

• Proceedings of the Population Association of Korea Conference
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• 2006.12a
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• pp.59-87
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• 2006

This paper explores the effects of the 1997 economic crisis on the pattern of socioeconomic differentials in fertility. Based on analysis of data from the 2003 Korea National Fertility Survey, this study focuses on recent changes in the level of fertility according to socioeconomic status of the couple including educational level, occupation, working status, income, etc. Results reveal that the level of fertility of those with the highest education, most prestigious occupation, and employer status are higher than those of the next group in the socioeconomic hierarchy. These findings imply that the straight line inverse pattern of socioeconomic differentials in CEB yielded to a reversed J-shaped curve. However, recent differentials of fertility after the economic crisis were found to contrast with the pattern above. Decrease in fertility has been most drastic among those with a high level of fertility, and relatively slow for those with a low level of fertility. The level of recent fertility turns out to be highest among those with upper-middle socioeconomic status, followed by those with the highest socioeconomic status and those with the lowest status. Policy implications and some comments on current population policies of the Korean government are also presented in this paper.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.55-73
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• 2008

This research explores the relationship between gender equity within family and second birth in Korea. For a factor analysis on the intention of having additional children for women with one child, I have used the data from the 2005 National Survey on Marriage and Fertility Trend" of the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. Among 516 samples(year of 20-44), women planning to have second birth are 54.7%, and others have answered that they have no intention to have second birth. As a result, main causes affecting progressing to second birth seemed to be family planning on family cycle, such as controlling age gaps between first and second child, composing children genders as they wish etc. The variable of "gender equity between couples" in progressing to second birth are of significant only with married working women group. In case of married working women, more the husband's houseworking hours increase, the more prone to progress to second birth. However, in case of housewives, gender equity level, such as husband's housework hours or share of housework are not of significant influence in progressing to second birth. Not only working mothers but also housewives need the realization of gender equity within the family and the expansion of social support system for work-family life balance.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-25
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• 2011

There are two main purposes in this study. First, we compare the effects of wives' characteristics with the effects of the husbands' characteristics on the induced abortion. Second, we analyze whether the determinants of the induced abortion have changed according to parity and conception period. The main findings are follows. First, both wives' and husbands' socioeconomic characters have insignificant effects on the induced abortion at parity 0, in the 1997 and 2000 Korean Fertility Survey data. Second, during the periods of the lowest-low fertility, after 2000 in Korea, wives' employments have positive effects at parity 0 and 1, while husbands' educational levels have negative effects at parity 1 on the induced abortion. The implications are as follows. First, having children had been the universal social phenomenon before 2000 in Korea. however, after 2000, reproductions have become the women's choice, lather than the duty of married women. Women must weight the balance between the benefits and the costs of children so that women's fertility behaviors become a rational choice. Women's employment is the most important factor in these rational calculations. Second, both Western individualism and the traditional Korean familism have significant effects on the fertility behavior and the induced abortions in Korea. This rejects the diffusion theory, which tells that the traditional familism must be replaced by the Western individualism in order to decline the fertility rates in developing countries.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.111-137
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to analyze how to change the fertility behavior at each parity after/before the economic crisis, and to find its significant determinants. The study assumes that because the socioeconomic changes have significant effects on the individual's fertility behavior, the individual's fertility behaviors and the determinants affecting fertility at each parity may change with economic crisis. Such assumption has been proven in this study. After the economic crisis, Korean fertility behavior at each parity has changed. The proportion of women having no child has increased. However, women who want to have a second child or a third one are more likely to do so within shorter period after marriage. The rectangularization of fertility has appeared after the economic crisis, because women married at later ages tends to finish their child bearing within the short period, especially before age 35. Based on the multiple variable analysis, the determinants affecting the fertility behavior have changed after the economic crisis. Interestingly, the men's safety job have the positive effects on the first childbearing while the women's safety careers have the negative effects on it, after the economic crisis. Before the economic crisis, both do not have significant effects on the first childbearing. This findings point out the limitation of women career favor policy, which purpose to raise the fertility rates by making good environments for women having children to work comfortably without the anxiety of child care.