A Comparative Study on Population Policies in Developing Countries

개발도상국들의 인구정책에 관한 비교연구 -출산조절정책을 중심으로-

This study was designed to make a comparative analysis of fertility control policies in developing countries selected from Asia and Latin America. Considering the size and the density of population, the history of the fertility control policy, and the availability of references, eight countries were chosen among Asian developing countries that have adopted the fertility control as an official policy. All of nine countries in Latin America that have adopted family planning as an official policy were included in this study. An attempt was made to formulate an analytical framework to be used for a comparative analysis of fertility control policies. It can be represented by a continuum which consists of individual approaches and structural approaches to fertility control at both extremes. It represents fairly well the controversies between those who advocate family planning and those who advocate measures beyond family planning, but assumes that the two sides of the controversy form a continuum of approaches to fertility control. Various fertility control policies of each country were placed along this continuum and analyzed. The results of the analysis can be summarized as follows: (a) Those countries that have higher population pressure in terms of either the size of population or the population density tend to adopt fertility control policies earlier in time. (b) Those countries that have higher population pressure in terms of either the size of population or the population density tend to adopt more comprehensive measures along the continuum of fertility control policies. (c) Those countries that adopted more comprehensive measures along the continuum seem to have succeeded in reducing their level of fertility more effectively. (d) Developing countries in Asia tend to adopt more comprehensive measures to control fertility than those in Latin American countries. (e) The reduction of fertility in developing countries seems to be associated with both the fertility control policies and the level of socioeconomic development.