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Labour market dualization, permanent insecurity and fertility: the case of ultra-low fertility in South Korea

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  • Fleckenstein, Timo
  • Lee, Soohyun Christine
  • Mohun Himmelweit, Sam

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between labour market dualization, insecurity and low fertility, through a case study of South Korea, an extreme case of ultra-low fertility where the total fertility rate fell to 0.84 in 2020. It is argued that the long-term nature of the insecurity associated with dualization, as well as its impact on people’s perceptions of present and future insecurity, mark dualization out as a particular phenomenon whose impact on fertility current demographic approaches struggle to fully understand. Rather than restricting the focus to the education-employment transition, we show how permanent insecurity in highly dualized labour markets depresses fertility.

Suggested Citation

  • Fleckenstein, Timo & Lee, Soohyun Christine & Mohun Himmelweit, Sam, 2023. "Labour market dualization, permanent insecurity and fertility: the case of ultra-low fertility in South Korea," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 117935, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:117935
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/117935/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Fleckenstein, Timo & Lee, Soohyun Christine, 2024. "Labour market dualisation and social protection in South Korea: searching for a new social contract and growth model," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 122215, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    fertility; labour markets; family; inequality; gender inequality; social policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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