Philippines: Association of Population Correspondents formed in the Philippines

2 major decisions were reached at the December 1979 National Workshop for ESCAP Population Correspondents in the Philippines. The first was to set up an Association of Population Correspondents in order to enhance sharing population information at the national level. A newsletter was identified as a priority. The second decision was to set up a task force under the leadership of the Executive Secretary of the Commission on Population. The task force will be responsible for the preparation of a project proposal to establish a national population information clearing-house. Associated tasks will be the organization of a baseline study of the existing agencies, their capabilities and potential roles in the future national clearing-house. Participants stated specific needs for information. Information is needed from Thailand on community-based family planning programs and Indonesia on community participation and evaluation studies on contraceptive technology. The special needs of each member nation should be identified and then fed back to them for obtaining the required information. Participants requested a list of trainers for community-based programs; listing of specific linkages between private and government agencies involved in population work; and listing of international funding agencies on research and action programs.     

Current status of and prospects for China Population Information Centre

The China Population information Centre (CPIC), set up in May 1980, is a national institution for population information research under the State Family Planning Commission. Its main functions are to 1) collect, process, and distribute and foreign materials on population and family planning; 2) collect, tabulate, and analyze population and family planning data; 3) keep abreast of new population and family planning developments within and outside the country; 4) edit and publish information materials; and 5) provide information users with diversified services. The CPIC has 8 operational units: 1) the Library, 2) the Statistics Division, 3) the 1st Information Research Division, 4) the 2nd Information Research Division, 5) the Editorial Division, 6) the Translation Division, 7) the Computer Division, and 8) the Technical Support Division.     

构建农村社会保障三项奠基性制度

社会主义市场经济的建立需要健全的社会保障体制作保证,如果占总人口大多数的农村居民得不到保障,中国的社会保障制度就很难称得上完善。在本文中笔者着重探讨了农村最低生活保障制度、农村合作医疗制度以及农村居民养老保障制度,通过对这三项制度的构建基本就构建了中国农村社会保障制度的基础。     

The temporal and spatial dynamics of city-size distributions in China

Under the communist regime, the Chinese government has developed policies both to limit the growth of large cities and to promote spatial equity in population distribution. The literature provides only very general and inconclusive results regarding the impact of these policies. This paper aims at evaluating the effectiveness of China's urban policies by investigating the temporal and spatial dynamics of the size distribution of China's cities during the period 1922–82. The research framework — which is based on a function relating population size to rank —is used to test for trends of deconcentration (where smaller cities grow faster than larger cities) and spatial decentralization (with a more even spatial distribution) of population over the study period. More formally, the ‘expansion methodology’ is used to investigate the dynamics of the rank-size function in both temporal and spatial dimensions. The findings show that from 1953 to 1970 there was significant population deconcentration, which appeared to be reversed subsequently. However, policies of spatial decentralization were not found to be successful. Among the reasons suggested for the apparent failure are political upheavals and shifts in policies, the inertia within the urban system, the harsh physical environment in the interior, and current trends in economic policies that focus on the coastal areas. In spite of recent criticisms of studies on city-size distributions (which this paper also discusses), the research framework proposed and utilized here is able to portray the dynamics of a national urban system, and the framework can be used to evaluate national urban policies.     

1980 ASEAN programme roundup: a model in the making

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) experts and heads of national population programs held their 4th meeting in Singapore from November 24-28, 1980. Program heads resolved to take steps to link their national activities in the population field with those of the ASEAN Population Program and carry out studies and a joint programming exercise in 1981. Progress reports on the following Phase 1 projects were given: 1) integration of population and rural development policies and programs in ASEAN countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand; 2) development of an inter-country modular training program for personnel in population and rural development; 3) multi-media support for population programs in the context of rural development in ASEAN countries; 4) utilization of research findings in population and family planning for policy formulation and program management in ASEAN countries; and 5) migration in relation to rural development. Phase 2 projects approved by ASEAN country participants were also discussed: 1) institutional development and exchange of personnel, 2) women in development, 3) developing and strengthening national population information systems and networks in ASEAN countries, 4) population and development dynamics and the man/resource balance, 5) studies on health and family planning in ASEAN countries, 6) population migration movement and development, and 7) development of ASEAN social indicators.     

Similarities and Differences Among the Taiwan,China, and Hong-Kong Versions of the WHOQOL Questionnaire

To facilitate comparison across cultures, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been developing a universal measure of quality of life (QOL) called the WHOQOL Questionnaire. This questionnaire contains 24 facets organized into six broad domains: physical, psychological, level of independence, social relationships, environment, and spirituality/religion/personal beliefs. The standard WHOQOL is designed for cross-cultural comparison. However, to obtain a valid QOL measure that can be applied in diverse populations, cultural adaptation of the WHOQOL has been encouraged. Each culture is permitted to add culture-specific questions, called national items, so that the questionnaire can also reflect cultural attributes. Three Chinese versions of the WHOQOL have been developed for China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. National items were selected for each version according to the criteria proposed by the WHOQOL Group. The purpose of this paper is to compare the Taiwan version to the China and Hong Kong versions. The questionnaire development process, response scale generation, psychometric properties (reliability and validity), national items, and population means were all examined. Results indicated that not only is cultural adaptation of WHOQOL measures necessary for individual cultures, but also for sub-cultures, as these differences must be considered in order to provide effective health care and treatment.     

Heterogeneity in the Strehler-Mildvan General Theory of Mortality and Aging

This study examines and further develops the classic Strehler-Mildvan (SM) general theory of mortality and aging. Three predictions from the SM theory are tested by examining the age dependence of mortality patterns for 42 countries (including developed and developing countries) over the period 1955–2003. By applying finite mixture regression models, principal component analysis, and random-effects panel regression models, we find that (1) the negative correlation between the initial adulthood mortality rate and the rate of increase in mortality with age derived in the SM theory exists but is not constant; (2) within the SM framework, the implied age of expected zero vitality (expected maximum survival age) also is variable over time; (3) longevity trajectories are not homogeneous among the countries; (4) Central American and Southeast Asian countries have higher expected age of zero vitality than other countries in spite of relatively disadvantageous national ecological systems; (5) within the group of Central American and Southeast Asian countries, a more disadvantageous national ecological system is associated with a higher expected age of zero vitality; and (6) larger agricultural and food productivities, higher labor participation rates, higher percentages of population living in urban areas, and larger GDP per capita and GDP per unit of energy use are important beneficial national ecological system factors that can promote survival. These findings indicate that the SM theory needs to be generalized to incorporate heterogeneity among human populations.     

Enhancing engagement between the population,environment, and climate research communities: the shared socio-economic pathway process

Demographers have much to contribute to climate change science. This paper describes a new framework being developed by the climate research community that holds potential as an organizing tool for population–climate scholarship, as well as being useful for identifying demographic research gaps within the climate change field. The shared socio-economic pathways (SSPs) represent plausible alternative trends in the evolution of social and natural systems over the twenty-first century at the scale of the world and large regions. The SSPs can help identify population–environment research gaps by illuminating areas of intersection that will shape climate futures but require deeper scientific understanding—the association between urbanization and energy consumption is an example. Also, to vastly enhance the policy relevance of local case studies, the parameters outlined within the SSPs can offer a basic level of harmonization to facilitate generalization. In this way, the SSP framework can increase the relevance and accessibility of population research and, therefore, offer a mechanism through which demographic science can truly offer policy impact.     

Environmental Protection,Population Change,and Economic Development in the Rural Western United States

This research analyzes the relationship between protected federal lands (wilderness, national parks, national monuments and roadless areas) and nearby communities in the rural western United States. Opponents of environmental protection claim that protected lands limit the growth of nearby communities by locking up potentially valuable natural resources and restricting mining, logging and grazing. Others claim that extractive industries are no longer the backbone of rural economies— instead, the presence of protected federal lands encourages growth by attracting tourists and new residents. A geographic information system is used to calculate the proportion of protected lands occurring within 50 miles of the center of each western county. This calculation, in combination with detailed county-level data, indicates that environmental protection is correlated with relatively rapid population growth and with relatively rapid income and employment growth.     

Changes in childlessness for all women in the United States: A reply to Spencer

The analysis of changes in childlessness as opposed to structural correlates of childlessness is quite new. Our focus on indicators of such changes called for a macro-analytic framework which would permit the test of changing features of population characteristics and the relationship between structural changes in different population cohorts. An appropriate data set was one that would permit the analysis ofchanging levels ofchildlessness in age cohorts and the changes in population characteristics which would offer possible explanations for the changing childlessness pattern.     

中国人口发展指数研究

人口发展是落实科学发展观、确保人口安全乃至国家安全的战略基础。从人口自身发展水平、人口与经济社会发展水平、人口可持续发展能力三个层面建立人口发展评价指标体系,并依照熵值法、层次分析法集成确定评价指标的权重,编制全国及各地区的人口发展评价指数。测算结果表明,2007年全国人口发展综合指数为40.6%,较2006年提高1.7个百分点;东部沿海、东北地区领先于全国其他地区。     

Old-age support system and policy reform in China

"With the on-going economic transition from the central planned system to a market-oriented system, the population aging process in China is also accelerating, and the support system for the elderly becomes an important issue demanding attention. With data from Chinese national statistics and a regional probability sampling survey in Wuhan Area, two supporting systems for the aged in China are examined in this paper. After a briefing of the population aging process in China, a detailed discussion of the two supporting systems, i.e. the formal and the informal support systems for the aged, including arrangement, operation and funding mechanisms of the systems, is made in terms of policy reform. Then follows an international comparison to highlight features and problems of the Chinese systems. Finally, solutions are proposed for the restructuring of China's pension systems."     

The interrelations of marital status,fertility, family size and intelligence test scores

In this paper data relating to men born in 1924 in the two southernmost counties of Sweden, and called up for military service in 1944 are analyzed. The population registers yield certain demographic and social information about these men, and this may be related to their performance in an intelligence test administered when they were called up. The association between test scores and level of schooling on one hand, and such variables as nuptiality, age at marriage, number of sibs, marital fertility, the incidence of pre-nuptial conceptions and occupational class is discussed, and an estimate of the influence of differential fertility on the trend of intelligence is given.     

中国大陆全民医保与台湾地区全民健保福利性之比较

中国大陆的全民医疗保险与台湾地区的全民健康保险在制度覆盖对象、基金给付范围和给付程度、基金实现效率及效果等体现制度福利强度的方面都有明显的差别,这与两地的经济实力、健保观念、健保管理经验和政治环境差异有关。借鉴台湾地区健保经验,大陆欲增强全民医保的福利效果,应把医疗保险发展成统一的全民健康保险,实行门诊和大病统筹保障;加快培育私营医疗服务机构,增加定点医疗机构并让民众自由就诊;建立以病人为中心的医院品质评价机制,引导医院改进服务设施,提高人本服务水平;加快基金按服务质量和病种付费的步伐,加速推行总额预算制;减少对公立医院的非建设性投入,加大对民众医保的投入。     

Major studies on population authorized by United States Congress

The Office of Technology Assessment, acting on a request from the U.S. Congress, will undertake 2 major population studies in the near future. The goal of the studies will be to facilitate U.S. policy formulation over the next couple of decades. The 1st study will attempt 1) to assess the impact of efforts make by national government to alter birth rates between 1960-1980; 2) to predict the effects of population growth utilizing different assumptions concerning family planning; 3) to identify the types of population issues which will emerge in the period 1980-2000; and 4) identify research priorities aimed at clarifying these issues. The 2nd study will 1) investigate current contraceptive technology; 2) attempt to define a perfect contraceptive; and 3) examine the prospects of contraceptive technology between 1980-2000.     

International Conference on Population concluded with success

This article briefly summarizes the proceedings of the International Conference on Population held in Mexico city in August, 1984. The Secretary General of the Conference, R.M. Salas stated the overriding objective of population policies to be stabilization of global population, and called for cntinuation and strengthening of global population programs. Many delegations gave particular emphasis to the strict respect for state sovereignty in the formulation and implementation of national population policies, and to the basic human right of all couples and individuals to have full freedom to decide the number and spacing of their children, as well as to have full access to information and means necessary to make their decision. The US view that a free economy has a direct and rapid effect on fertility decline was rejected because some delegations deemed it improper to mention only 1 economic system in an international document. A proposal from the Holy See on abortion met with compromise in the adoption of the statement that "abortion should not be, in any case, promoted as a method of family planning." The chariman of the 27 member Chinese delegation, Wang Wei, emphasized in his speech the need for each country to determine its own policy regarding population, and described some of China's achievements in population control. The Chinese delegation made its own contribution to the formulation of 88 recommendations by actively participating in discussions and group consultations and offering its constructive proposals for important items. China was elected as one of the Vice Chairmen of the Conference and served as a member country of the Credential Committee as well as a co-sponsor of the Declaration.     

Causality Chains in the International Migration Systems Approach

Research into international migration lacks a commonly accepted theoretical framework, which would facilitate the accumulation of knowledge. This article aims to be a first attempt to construct such a framework and to incorporate causalities in the international migration systems approach. The author presents a theoretical framework in which four groups of factors acting on international migration are distinguished: economic, social, political and “linkages.” The causalities in this framework are derived from different international migration theories. The various positions of these whole theories within the framework are shown as causality chains. In a way, these causality chains form the time dimension of an international migration system

农村社会保障制度框架构建研究

在我国农村人口结构发生重大变化、农村人口比重下降、人口老龄化严重、农村家庭规模日趋小型化的情况下,农民明显存在养老、疾病和贫困风险。按全面建设小康社会、实现城乡和经济社会协调可持续发展的要求,必须加快构建农村社会保障体系,制订近期和中长期目标,明确以社会保险作为保障制度的主要模式,建立包括农村养老保险、医疗保障和最低生活保障制度为基本内容的制度框架。     

人口安全预警系统基本框架研究

建立人口安全预警系统是一个全新课题,从一般关系切入,讨论了建立人口安全预警系统所要遵循的基本原则,并从人口安全预警系统的建立和运行两个方面进行了框架性思考。     

人口承载力指标系的建立及量化

有关人口承载力概念、内涵、指标体系与评价模型的研究在我国已取得了长足的发展。纵观渊源,可归结为从容量、阈值、能力等角度分别进行的研究。然而,全球经济一体化进程的不断推进,开放式条件分析框架下的人口承载力已从简单意义上的"量"演变为复杂状况下"量"与"性"才能研究的目标对象。开放式条件作为现今必需的研究背景,结合环境和资源的相对稳定性、人口规模与经济规模大小的适应性,有必要建立衡量和评价人口承载力"质量"的指标系。通过围绕社会经济状况、环境资源、区域人口状况三系统讨论了人口承载力指标系的构建与量化。