Re-examining the East Asian fertility decline

Abstract

In the past 50 years, the phenomenon of persistent sub-replacement level fertility rates is of increasing significance in East Asian countries as issues such as ageing population and greying work force increase. Inexplicably, the number of childbirths in East Asia has rapidly decreased since the 1960s. Through a cross-comparison analysis of similarity and differences across 3 cases, China, Japan and Singapore, the main purpose of this study is to establish whether economic development was the key factor which led to rapid decline in East Asian fertility and sustained fertility decline. The comparison includes other factors like the country’s historical background, population control policy measures and history, gender inequality levels, type of political regime, and level of democratisation. Additionally, fundamental theories and ideology behind the past and present population policies undertaken by East Asian countries are also re-examined to determine the relationship between policy, theory and fertility transition in East Asia.