Population: South Korea benefitting from the demographic dividend Flashcards
What was the indication that the demographic dividend was beginning?
Between 1950 and 1975, South Korea’s fertility began to drop from 5.4 children per woman to 2.9 children per woman, indicating that the transition was underway.
What did South Korea achieve between 1960 and 1990 in terms of population?
South Korea made a rapid transition from a high to a low fertility rate, while simultaneously experiencing an annual growth in per capita gross domestic product of 6.7% between 1960 and 1990.
What was the success between 1960 and 1990 a result of?
This success was a result of addressing population issues, and also investing in reproductive health programs, education, and economic policies to create infrastructure and manufacturing.
What was SK’s population pyramid like in 1950?
Wide base, Triangular shaped, steep sides.
Wide base = high birth rate
Triangular shape = not developed
Steep sides = high death rate
What was SK’s population pyramid like in 1975?
Slightly narrower base, still quite large, narrow top, steep sides.
Narrower base = decrease in birth rate which was when the demographic dividend began.
There was a high mortality rate between the ages 15-19 to 20-24.
The steep sides mean there were high mortality rates.
What was SK’s population pyramid like in 2005?
Narrow base, wide middle, narrower top, bulge in the middle.
The narrow base = further decrease in the birth rate.
Wide middle = high economically active population to support the dependent population.
The top is narrower than the middle but still wider than in 1975 meaning more of the economically active population were living past age of 60.
How did the population policy encourage the demographic dividend achieved?
An aggressive population policy was introduced and widely implemented throughout the public and private sectors. Although the government had invested in many healthcare centres, providing a range of services including medical care and family planning, the use of these centres was relatively low. However, many field officers visited homes to provide information and explain the different methods of family planning. This was a very effective strategy as it was able to reach more women compared to clinic-based services. This program had encouraged the acceptance of family planning meaning that the investment in training providers, information and education as well as contraceptive supplies were worthwhile.
What club was created that contributed to the implementation of the policy?
Additionally, the creation of mothers’ clubs had contributed to the implementation of the policy in over 19 000 villages.
Other than the policy what was another contributing factor to the reduction of fertility rates?
Another contributing factor to the reduction in fertility rates was that people saw that having fewer children improved family life. Furthermore, the large investment into health care services meant that mortality rates had reduced. The reduction in IMR means that the fertility rates had decreased, but also a decrease in mortality rates for age groups on the economically active population means that there is a larger population of economically active as less are dying, more are making it into older age of the economically active population.
What factors led to rapid economic development, better educated population and a wealthier population?
Due to a decrease in fertility rates and family sizes, less children (in a family) were attending school meaning that households have more disposable income meaning the population becomes wealthier. Sustained investment in education contributes to a better-educated population, in turn contributed to rapid economic development through a skilled labour force.
How has the country benefited from the dividend?
Labour force participation of women of childbearing age (20-29) had increased from 45% in 1980 to almost 65% 2004, due to the increased workforce’s proportion in highly educated women. The young and old consume more than they produce, whereas the working age population tend to have a higher level of economic output and a higher level of savings. So, as baby-boomers reach middle age, national savings rose and contributed to capital accumulation and high economic growth.
What needs to happen in the future to maintain the Demographic Dividend?
Increasing the fertility rate so that there will be a large economically active population in the future.
Introducing policies, similar to that of Japan, whereby people are not allowed to be treated in hospital for more than 3 months and sent home to be treated. This increases the death rate by increasing the mortality rates in old age – this means there are fewer elderly dependants.
Legalising euthanasia in order to increase death rate – this means there are fewer elderly dependants.
What was the reduction in fertility rate from the 1960s to 2010?
1960: 6.10 children per woman
1980: 2.82 children per woman
2010: 1.23 children per woman
What was the reduction in death rate from the 1960s to 2010?
1960: 13.99 deaths/ 1000
1980: 7.3 deaths/ 1000
2010: 5.1 deaths/ 1000
What was the reduction in life expectancy from the 1960s to 2010?
1960: 53 years
1980: 66.05 years
2010: 80.12 years
