The Population Problem in Pacific Asia

Despite the 21st century's often being referred to as the Asian Century--indicating hope for economic growth and the rebalancing of the global order--population aging and stagnation presents an existential threat to the success of China and other countries of Pacific Asia. This book argues that the "population problem," rooted in low fertility, has thus far been largely considered in a uni-dimensional way: low fertility leads to population stagnation and rapid aging, so fixing low fertility should correct the problem. However, a multi-dimensional lens is essential to appreciating the scale and nature of the issue--and, indeed, to determining whether it is an issue at all. Gietel-Basten examines how the issue of low fertility has been constructed, how blame has been apportioned, and why policies designed to tackle it have yielded few results. The text specifically examines the territories of Pacific Asia (namely Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore), alongside chapters covering the particular circumstances of China. Drawing on an array of primary and secondary sources, as well as examples from scholarly and popular literature, The "Population Problem" in Pacific Asia takes a comparative approach to fertility in the region and locates mainland China in its regional context. It serves as a useful resource for government workers and other stakeholders, as well as students and scholars in sociology, demography, geography, economics, and area studies.