Fertility decline in Asia: The role of marriage change.

Abstract

In dealing with fertility decline in Asia the present article needs to strike an appropriate balance examining the role of marriage change without exaggerating its role. The first section summarizes current trends in fertility in some Asian countries particularly where fertility has reached very low levels. Changes in marriage (particularly delays in marriage) in those countries are discussed in the second section. Available evidence of the disaggregation of fertility decline into marriage change and marital fertility decline is then summarized. The fourth section examines the factors influencing marriage and those influencing fertility within marriage considering the extent to which they are interlinked or separate. A brief discussion of policy on marriage change for fertility reduction rounds out the substantive scope followed by the final section that draws some conclusions. (excerpt)