Premchand Dommaraju

Divorce trends in Asia

Abstract This paper presents and discusses recent trends in divorce for countries in Asia, highlighting both wide variations in divorce patterns and recent changes in divorce trends for countries in the region. Three broad regional patterns are evident: an East Asian pattern characterised by increasing divorce rates, though there are signs of stabilisation in some countries in the last few years; an Islamic Southeast Asian pattern characterised by declining divorce rates until recently; and a South Asian pattern with relatively stable and low divorce rates. The paper also discusses divorce in international marriages in some East Asian countries and Singapore.

NUPTIALITY IN SOVIET AND POST-SOVIET CENTRAL ASIA

This study analyses nuptiality patterns in three Central Asian countries—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan—over two decades preceding and one decade following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, using census and Demographic Health Survey data. Although marriage remained universal through the end of that period, marriage age increased, and for younger cohorts, marriage rates declined considerably. Marriage age began to increase in the years following independence and there are no signs of any reversal. Within these countries marriage rates showed significant variation by educational achievement, and a much smaller variation by rural–urban residence. In Kazakhstan, ethnic differences in marriage age—Russians marrying earlier than the native Kazakhs—began to narrow. During the years of social, political and economic turmoil that preceded and followed independence, marriage rates increased dramatically followed by a steep decline in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan but not in Kazakhstan. Explanations of these trends are proposed based on the literature on demographic adjustments to social crises and the specifics of Central Asias historico-cultural and socio-economic contexts.

Regional Fertility Transition in India: An Analysis Using Synthetic Parity Progression Ratios

This paper examines various aspects of regional fertility transition in India. Using nationally representative data from three rounds of National Family Health Surveys (NFHSs) conducted in India, we compare and contrast fertility patterns in six regions of India for the period between 1977 and 2004. To study the fertility patterns, we use synthetic parity progression ratios which, besides providing estimates for average lifetime parity, also allow for decomposition of lifetime parity by birth order. The paper also examines changes in birth intervals over time and across the six regions. The results confirm the persistence of regional differences in fertility. However, in all regions fertility is declining and it is possible that fertility rates will converge in the near future. The main reason for fertility decline in all regions is the reduction in third- and higher-order births. There has not been any significant decline in first and second births, even in regions with low fertility. In addition to the discussion of the substantive results, the paper also comments on the quality of NFHS data.

Perspectives on Old Age in India

The elderly population of India is projected to increase to about 300 million by 2050. Families, the traditional source of support for the elderly in India, are getting smaller as result of reduction in fertility and, in rural areas, due to migration. Changing norms and attitudes on intergenerational relations and filial piety have the potential to weaken traditional social and family support structures that the elderly depend on. As institutional and welfare support systems are lacking in India, changes to the family and social support structures will have serious implications for ageing in India. The demographic, economic, family and health perspectives presented in this chapter reveal some of the complexities of ageing in India. They show that the nature, type and direction of support between the generations depends on the situation and resources of both parents and children, embedded within the wider social and cultural values of support and care, and the expectations and meanings attributed to these values. The perspectives presented also raise important questions about the relationships, roles and responsibilities of individuals, families and the state.

Productive aging in India

With its sociocultural, institutional, and demographic contexts, India offers a unique opportunity to study the dynamics and experiences of aging, especially as it is poised to have a large increase in the number of persons aged 60 and above in the next half a century. In this paper, we focus on the concept of productive aging that emphasizes the active participation of older persons in society. We examine the correlates of productive aging in India, drawing on data from the Building Knowledge Base on Population Aging (BKPAI) survey of 9852 men and women aged 60 years and above in seven states of India in 2011. The productive activities that we examine pertain to four domains: work, contribution to household financial matters, grandparenting, and social engagement. The findings highlight the importance of gender, family structure, and socio-economic status in these different aspects of productive aging. Importantly, the findings show that the effect of the correlates is not the same across the different measures of productive aging. We find that women are less likely than men to engage in all productive activities except for grandparenting, and that living with children and adverse health reduce the likelihood of current employment or financial contributions, but not of social engagement or grandparenting. Greater wealth at older ages reduces the likelihood of employment but increases the likelihood of social engagement and ties. The study contributes to the understanding of opportunities and constraints of productive aging in India and has implications for intergenerational relationships, support and dependencies in old age.

Marital instability in the context of dramatic societal change: the case of Kyrgyzstan

ABSTRACT How do marriages fare during times of dramatic social, political and economic transition? Transitional societies offer a unique context for studying marital instability as they are often buffeted by countervailing forces of modernisation and re-traditionalisation, in addition to socio-economic and political changes. Using detailed and rich data from Kyrgyzstan, the study investigates trends over time in marital instability in response to societal upheavals and gradual secular transformations; ethnic group-specific responses in marital instability; and the role of changing gender regimes in marital instability. The findings reveal an increase in the rate of marital dissolution over time. However, ethnic group-specific differentials remained significant, mirroring the historically shaped relative positioning of the groups in the process of demographic change. The results also highlight gender differentials in the influence of education and employment on marital instability. The findings are discussed within the broader framework of demographic and social changes in transitional Central Asia.

Rural Demography in Asia and the Pacific Rim

The rural population of Asia is expected to reach a peak of 2.4 billion around 2015 and to decline steadily thereafter, though in many countries rural populations have been declining for decades. Rural-urban migration, related to the shift in the structure of employment, has been the key reason for slowing rural population growth, though fertility declines are assuming ever greater importance. The age structure of rural populations differs from that of urban populations, with the population aged 15–29 and to a lesser extent aged 30–49 being under-represented. Rural populations are less educated, in poorer health, and with a higher incidence of poverty than urban populations. The share of agriculture in employment in rural areas closer to cities tends to be lower because of more diversified employment opportunities in these areas, and the chance of commuting. But throughout the rural areas of Asia, conditions of life have changed dramatically in recent decades with electrification and the spread of transport and communications facilities.

Instruction des femmes et évolution du mariage en Inde

Cet article examine l’influence de l’education sur la nuptialite des femmes en Inde, par l’analyse des donnees longitudinales extraites des recensements. Entre 1981 et 2001, les niveaux d’instruction et l’âge au mariage ont tous deux augmente. Si les donnees transversales montrent une association positive entre le niveau de scolarisation et le report du mariage, la modelisation des donnees longitudinales indique que l’impact de l’instruction sur le calendrier du mariage est assez limite, surtout pendant la periode 1981-1991 ; il est neanmoins significatif, bien que modeste, entre 1991 et 2001. Selon les resultats de cette etude, l’association entre education et nuptialite mise en evidence par l’analyse des donnees transversales pourrait etre due a des facteurs non observes qui influencent a la fois la scolarisation et le mariage. En fait, l’evolution a long terme de l’âge au mariage a un effet plus determinant que celle du niveau d’instruction sur la nuptialite des femmes avant 20 ans. Et la modelisation avec variables instrumentales indique que l’education et la nuptialite ne sont pas interdependantes : les progres des niveaux de scolarisation sont largement independants de l’evolution de l’âge au mariage.