The "Population Problem" in Pacific Asia

Reviews / Votes

Stuart Gietel-Basten's book traces out very effectively the trends in fertility and population size and structure in the Pacific Asian countries, offers an insightful analysis of the factors keeping fertility low, the policy concerns of their governments, and some approaches to enabling their population to realize their family building desires. His book raises many important issues, in some cases in innovative ways. * Gavin W. Jones, Australian National University, Social Forces * Gietel-Basten has gathered the findings [of his research] in this book, in short readable chapters and a strong critical narrative of 178 pages. The result is a timely warning against single-minded approaches to population policy, and a reminder that millions of individual decision makers can have enormous influences on fertility rates even in communal-based societies, at times undermining the intentions of authoritarian leaders. * Population and Development Review * It is a rare treasure: a book written by a demographer that is a real delight to read....It is clearly written with a wide readership in mind, though it also has much to offer population specialists * Population Studies * Something's happening out there and Stuart Gietel-Basten has a better idea of what it might be than any other demographer currently working on the planet. This modestly titled book is about something far greater than the issue of population in part of Asia. Here, the first substantial and rigorous academic evidence on the topic is collated, synthesised, and presented. More of the world is heading for sustained very low fertility than that part currently projected to continue growing in population within a couple of generations' time. It began in earnest in Pacific Asia. This is the first book to tell the most important story of our current century. * Danny Dorling, PhD, Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography, University of Oxford * This is a genuinely impressive book. It gives us a thorough and extremely well-documented panorama of the lowest-low fertility syndrome in Pacific Asia and China. But of far greater importance, it helps us understand that the gap between desired and actual childbearing is a multi-dimensional problem. Pacific Asia cannot expect a return to higher fertility with one policy, be it family allowances or early childcare; a thoroughgoing institutional realignment is a must. This conclusion, I believe, can readily be generalized to the low-fertility nations of Europe. The 'Population Problem' in Pacific Asia is as relevant for policymakers as it is for academics. * Gosta Esping-Andersen, PhD, Professor, Bocconi University * The future of world population growth will largely depend on the speed of fertility decline in Africa and on the question how low fertility will fall in Asia. This well written book introduces the reader to the determinants of very low fertility in Pacific Asia and discusses its economic, social, and policy implications. A must for everyone interested in Asian and world population. * Wolfgang Lutz, PhD, Founding Director, Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital * At last, here is a book which scrutinises a wide range of contexts and data on the demographic profiles of Pacific Asian countries leading to it having 'population problem' in quotation marks-connoting 'so-called,' 'alleged,' or similar. That sceptical rejection is quite correct. The book is an academic work in demography, but I hope it will be read by politicians to get through to them that superficial, ill-informed speeches and policy proposals that implicitly or explicitly demonise women are likely to be totally nugatory in their impacts. * David Cope, PhD, MSc, Former Director, UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology *