Back to home page1992/93
93.66.01 - Germany - Christoph BADELT
"Parents' Salary" and "Freedom of Choice" between Paid and Unpaid Work: Empirical Results of a Controversial Concept ("Erziehungsgeld" und "Wahlfreiheit" zwischen Erwerbs- und Familienarbeit: Empirische Evizenz zu einem kontroversiellen Konzept) (p. 5-15)
In the Austrian discussion of family policy the controversial concept of a "parents' salary" has come to play an increasing role. According to this concept parents are "paid" by the government for taking care of their children during the first years after birth, while giving up paid work in the labour market. Critics oppose this concept because of its potentially negative implications for the labour force participation of women. The paper summarizes an empirical investigation of the effects a "Parents' salary" has had in Vorarlberg, a small province in Western Austria. It is shown that the public transfer payment substantially improves the financial situation of the families involved but also affects the distribution of money and power between the spouses within households. Moreover, it is pointed out that the payment of a parents' salary itself has "asymmetrical" effects, which could be balanced if more efforts were made to improve the child care facilities for children under three. (AUSTRIA, HOUSEHOLD INCOME, WAGES, POPULATION POLICY)
93.66.02 - Germany - Gerda NEYER
Institutional Child Care Facilities in Austria (Institutionelle Kinderbetreuung in Österreich) (p. 16-28)
The author examines the institutional child care provisions in Austria, particularly those for children under six years of age. About one third (35.5%) of all children under six years of age have a place in a child care centre. Facilities are especially rare for children under three years of age; only 2.2% of them are cared for in creches or nurseries. Among the children aged three to six 61.3% have a chance of going to child care centres, usually to kindergardens. There exist large regional differences in institutional child care support; the eastern regions of Austria offering better facilities than the western and southern regions. Despite the fact that all studies conducted in the past few years reveal a great demand for institutional child care services, particularly for children under three years of age, public policies have not responded adequately to these demands but rather favoured financial support for private care. Since 1989 almost all provinces in Austria have introduced financial benefits for child caring (low income) families with children aged under three; at the same time the numbers of institutional child care facilities for children under three years of age has been reduced in all the provinces. It may be concluded that (male) politicians thus negate women's demands for more support in child care. Using the results of various studies, the author estimates the need for public child care services. If women's demands for institutional child care services were respected by public authorities, about 200,000 additional places for children up to six years of age would be needed in Austria. (AUSTRIA, POPULATION POLICY, CHILD CARE)
93.66.03 - Germany - Josef KYTIR
Family Formation Behaviour in Austria in the Years 1950 to 1990 (Unehelich, vorehelichn ehelich: Familiengründung im Wandel. Eine empirische Analyse der Erstgeburten österreichischer Frauen 1950 bis 1990) (p. 29-40)
This analysis provides an outline of the changes in family formation behaviour in Austria in the years 1950 to 1990. Using vital statistical data and retrospective data of the 1981 census all women with their first confinement in the years 1950 to 1990 were classified into three distinct groups according to their form of family formation behaviour: 1) mother is unmarried at date of birth (illegitimate birth), 2) mother marries during pregnancy, 3) mother is married at time of conception. Changes in family formation behaviour over time are discussed in detail, focussing on different age groups and on regional differences. One surprising result is that even in the 50s and 60s more than 50% of all women were unmarried at the time of conception. In general, Austria has a comparatively high level of illegitimate first birth. Yet, the highest rates of illegitimacy are not found in urban areas but rather in those alpine regions (Salzburg, Carinthia, Styria, Tyrol) where illegitimate birth can be shown to be a long-standing practice. (AUSTRIA, FAMILY FORMATION, ILLEGITIMATE BIRTHS, FIRST BIRTH)
93.66.04 - Germany - Eva NEBENFÜHR
Prospects for the Development of Fertility in Austria (Perspektiven der Fertilitätsentwicklung Österreichs) (p. 41-49)
In Austria, as in most other European countries, after the sharp decline of the mid-60s, fertility has stabilized well under replacement level. In the course of the changing structure of family formation and the pluralization of lifestyles, the relationship between fertility and nuptiality has turned into a mutual one. Nuptiality is not always the determinant of fertility; it may also be the dependent variable. In the case of dependent marriages (i.e. those legitimizing premarital conception), for example, fertility influences the number of marriages. The perspective on future fertility developments varies in accordance with the respective interpretation of past trends. Do we face a Second Demographic Transition or are we only confronted with cyclical fluctuations in fertility? In other words, will fertility continue to fall in the long run, will its fall level off or may we expect a reversal of past trends? There is no definite answer to this question as demographic variables can never be subjected to projections in the sense of reliable predictions. According to Easterlin's relative income hypothesis, another baby boom is to be expected for the 1990s. This thesis has to be revised from today's point of view as the social framework influencing reproductive intentions has been transformed. Empirical evidence for the last few years suggests that fertility in Austria - and in most other European countries - will stay at a modest level for the coming decades. (AUSTRIA, FERTILITY TRENDS, NUPTIALITY, FORECASTS, DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION)
93.66.05 - Germany - Jasna CAPO
The Estate of Cernik. Economic and Demographic Development of a Croatian Village in Late Feudalism (Die Gutsherrschaft Cernik. Wirtschaftliche und demographische Entwicklung eines kroatischen Dorfes im Spätfeudalismus) (p. 50-59)
The author examines the standard of living of Croatian peasants on the estate of Cernik in north-eastern Croatia in the period of the so-called second serfdom (from approximately 1750 to 1850). By analysing living standards in conjunction with demographic data, this study disputes the hypothesis that in this period the peasant standard of living was getting worse. The author shows that the standard of living only decreased on the household level and in certain villages, while it increased in others. Moreover, on an individual level the standard of living was maintained or even raised in most villages. Similarly, peasant dues and obligations did not rise throughout the period. The analysis of demographic data is carried out within a complex model in which various factors - demographic, economic, social, and cultural - exist concomitantly and influence one another simultaneously. It brings counter-evidence to the hypothesis that complex households prevailed in eastern Croatia in the 18th and 19th centuries. The analysis also points to a difference in demographic regimes in certain parts of the estate: those regimes corresponded to economic characteristics of estate villages. Finally, the evaluation of various economic indicators suggests that the peasantry of Cernik might have had a somewhat higher standard of living than on other eastern Croatian estates. (CROATIA, HISTORICAL DEMOGRAPHY, PEASANTRY, STANDARD OF LIVING)
93.66.06 - Germany - Josef EHMER
A "German" History of Population? Gunther lpsen's Historical-Sociological Theory of Population (Eine "deutsche" Bevölkerungsgeschichte? Gunther Ipsens historisch-soziologische Bevölkerungstheorie) (p. 60-70)
German population historians refer to Gunther lpsen (1899-1984) as the founder of a "historical-sociological population theory". Reviewing Ipsen's most important publications in the field of population theory and population history, which mainly appeared in 1933, the author reconstructs the central features of lpsen's demographic and historical thinking. His system appears as an attempt to create a peculiar "German population theory" closely related to the ideologies and politics of the National-Socialist state. After 1945, Gerhard Mackenroth integrated Ipsen's theories into his own demographic models. In particular his concept of a homeostatic "agrarian demographic regime" or an "agrarian mode of population" is part of that problematic tradition. (GERMANY, HISTORY, POPULATION THEORY, NATIONALISM)
93.66.07 - Germany - Heinz FASSMAN, Peter FINDL and Rainer MÜNZ
Consequences of International Migration for Austria. Population Scenarios until 2031 (Die Auswirkungen der internationalen Wanderungen auf Österreich. Bevölkerungsszenarien bis 2031) (p. 71-78)
The end of the rift in Europe is forcing those countries located near the former Iron Curtain to review their population projections. Immigration from the eastern half of Europe into the adjoining West - including Austria - will probably become a regular phenomenon. With regard to Austria, the consequences of international immigration on population development and the labour market are assessed on the basis of four scenarios of possible political and economic developments in Europe. In case of massive immigration (net +50,000 per year) the residential population of Austria (1991: 7.8 million) will grow to 9.5 million within 40 years (1991-2031: +21%). With a net immigration of +25,000 persons per year the residential population will grow to 8.3 inhabitants (1991-2031: +6%). Without any immigration or with immigration and emigration of equal proportion, the population of Austria will shrink to somewhat above 7.1 million (-8%) till 2031. From the economic and demographic points of view, a certain amount of continuous immigration into West European industrial countries seems to be expedient. The scenarios worked out for Austria, however, show that some concrete integration policy will be needed in this case. (AUSTRIA, IMMIGRATION, POPULATION PROJECTIONS, MIGRATION POLICY)
93.66.08 - Germany - Heinz FASSMAN, Peter FINDL and Rainer MÜNZ
Household Trends, House Building and Housing Demand in Austria. Analyses and Scenarios 1961-2031 (Haushaltsentwicklung, Wohnbau und Wohnbedarf in Österreich. Analysen und Szenarien 1961-2031) (p. 79-89)
Starting with an analysis of regional population and household trends in Austria during the years 1961 to 1991, the authors project the household figures and structures for 1991 to 2031. Several scenarios of the future demand for dwellings are presented and the potential consequences of dwelling shortages are pointed out. The diagnosis of severe housing shortages is discussed in the context of possible political reactions concerning house building, as well as housing laws and regulations. The analysis covers Austria as a whole as well as her main regions (West, East, South), the federal provinces and - to some extent her central and peripheral areas. (AUSTRIA, HOUSEHOLD SIZE, HOUSING POLICY, PROJECTIONS)
93.66.09 - Germany - Werner HOLZER, Rainer MÜNZ and Peter OBERDAMMER
Multilingual Burgenland (Mehrsprachigkeit im Burgenland) (p. 90-94)
A survey on the demographic and social structures of language groups in Burgenland carried out in 1990/91 reveals the following: out of the 270,000 current inhabitants more than 24,000 (= 9.0%) speak or understand Croatian and a further 17,000 (= 6.1%) speak or understand Hungarian. 84.9% of the population of the Burgenland speak German only. Compared with the German-speaking population, the group of Croatian speakers, and to an even greater extent the Hungarian-speaking group, exhibit a clear predominance of elder people (over 60 years of age). In terms of social structure this implies that these two language groups have a higher percentage of retired persons and - especially with respect to the Hungarian-speaking group - a markedly reduced percentage of employed persons. Croatian and Hungarian speakers are clearly overrepresented in the public and private service sector. Compared with earlier surveys the group of Croatian speakers has lost its higher than average percentage of members of agricultural occupations. Hungarian speakers of the 15-40 age-group even show a slightly better than average educational profile. Among both groups pupils, students, and especially preschool children are markedly underrepresented, which signals an acutely dangerous state of affairs for both the Hungarian and Croatian language groups in Burgenland. (AUSTRIA, LANGUAGE MINORITIES, AGE DISTRIBUTION)
93.66.10 - Germany - Helga MATUSCHEK
Unaccompanied Children and Minors Refugee (Minderjährige auf der Flucht) (p. 95-102)
This article presents data on the demographic structure of the unaccompanied refugee children and also on their legal and social situation. The majority of the unaccompanied children came from European countries (Rumania, Turkey, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria); but there were also some from African and Asian countries. They are mainly male minors. The data show considerable discrimination against these minors. The government policy on asylum-seekers has higher priority than that on children who are unprotected and uncared for. (AUSTRIA, REFUGEES, MINORS, ABANDONED CHILDREN)
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