Population Policy, 1984

Annu Rev Popul Law. 1988:15:2, 254-6.

Abstract

PIP: This summary of Hungary's Population Policy of 1984 states that the primary objectives of the policy are 1) reducing the speed of population decline, 2) slowing population growth and achieving a more favorable age distribution, and 3) avoiding the emergence of new major peaks in birth numbers. This new policy gives equal importance to factors which influence fertility and those which influence mortality. The need to integrate population policy into socioeconomic planning is also reflected in the formal time frames offered by the policy. The policy stresses the importance of education and communication to influence public attitudes towards healthy lifestyles and family life. The need for demographic research is recognized as is the importance of public opinion research in developing appropriate actions to meet the stated goals. Instead of advocating a desired family size, the new policy seeks to establish conditions which make it easier for a family to achieve its desired fertility; for example, establishing a maternity fee as a fixed proportion of a mother's previous income for mothers who stay at home to raise their children until a certain age. The development of these measures depends upon analysis of labor market policies, the national budget, and the fertility of age cohorts of women.

Publication types

  • Legislation

MeSH terms

  • Behavior
  • Child Care*
  • Child Rearing
  • Developed Countries
  • Economics*
  • Education
  • Europe
  • Europe, Eastern
  • Family Planning Policy*
  • Hungary
  • Motivation*
  • Public Policy*
  • Sex Education*