Statistics Development Institute "Clear Delay in Marriage Among Highly Educated Women in Their 30s"

Publication of 2020 Research Report... Research Achievement Forum Also Held

Image source=Yonhap News

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] An analysis has emerged that the shift in young people's values toward prioritizing the individual and the present significantly impacts low birth rates. The pace of marriage among highly educated women in their 30s and childbirth among married professional women living in the Seoul metropolitan area is slowing, and it is noteworthy that changes in personal values are judged to have a greater influence on this phenomenon than economic conditions.

The Statistics Development Institute of Statistics Korea published the "2020 Statistics Development Institute Research Report," which contains research results in the fields of policy, economy, population, and social statistics, on the 13th.

According to the report "Characteristics and Transitions of Marriage and Childbirth in Korean Society," written by Secretary Park Sinae, the reason for Korea's low birth rate, with a total fertility rate of 0.84 last year?the only OECD member country not reaching 1.0?was analyzed.

Secretary Park explained, "The younger generation, who have internalized individualism and presentism values, are skeptical about marriage, and this phenomenon is especially pronounced among young women."

Specifically, she pointed out that ▲marriage among highly educated professional women in their 30s and ▲childbirth among married professional women with high educational levels living in the Seoul metropolitan area are slow.

What is noteworthy is the analysis that personal values regarding the necessity of marriage have a greater impact than demographic characteristics or economic factors. The necessity of children was also seen to be more influenced by attitudes toward marriage and children than by objective circumstances.

She emphasized, "To resolve low birth rates, efforts are needed to lower the barriers to marriage entry for young people, increase acceptance of diverse family forms, and create a society that can give hope to future generations."

Other studies included in the report are "Comparative Study of Mortality Prediction Models Considering Cohort Effects," "Study on the Construction of Statistical Indicator Systems for the Elderly," and "Alternative Measures for Nonresponse in the Economically Active Population Survey."

Meanwhile, to commemorate the 15th anniversary of its establishment, the Statistics Development Institute held an online research achievement forum under the theme "The Present and Future of Data Innovation for Evidence-Based National Governance" on the same day.

At the forum, six research results were presented, including statistical techniques developed to protect personal information and methods for constructing indicators to measure the economic and social impacts of COVID-19.