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88 POPULATION RESEARCH
AND POLICY REVIEW
December 1998, Vol. 17, N° 6
99.88.14 - GARASKY, Steven; MEYER, Daniel R.
Examining cross-state variation in the increase in father-only families.
Each state has the power to establish its own policy and laws relating to child custody determination. The number of single-parent families with children that are headed by fathers has been growing in the United States. This paper explores the extent of crossstate variation in the prevalence in father-only families in 1990, and the extent to which there was cross-state variation in the increase in father-only families in the 1980s. The 1980 and 1990 Public Use Microdata Samples (PUMS) drawn from the US decennial censuses are used. Decomposition analyses of growth indicate that increases in the number of father-only families occurred across all states during this period, but at varying rates. The primary reason for the increase in most states is an increase in the proportion of ever-married single-parent families that are headed by a father. It is for these families that are headed by divorced or separated parents that state policy relating to child custody determination is most relevant.
English - pp. 479-495.
S. Garasky, Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, U.S.A.
(UNITED STATES, STATE, ONE-PARENT FAMILY, FATHER, TRENDS, LEGISLATION, CHILD CUSTODY, COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS)
99.88.15 - CUMMINGS, Scott; LAMBERT, Thomas.
Immigration restrictions and the American worker: An examination of competing interpretations.
This paper examines three competing interpretations of support for tougher immigration restrictions. One interpretation posits that tighter restrictions are favored by those in direct competition with immigrants for jobs, namely low or unskilled workers who toil in labor markets that are low-paying and often unstable. A second line of thought is that greater restrictions are favored by workers who perceive immigrants as potential competitors in labor markets, even though there may be no real basis for such perceptions. The third interpretation explaining support for tougher restrictions is rooted in a broad based cultural nativism or nationalism, and relies heavily on traditional theories of prejudice and discrimination. Data for the study are derived from the 1992 National Election Survey, Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research. Contrary to theoretical expectations, neither actual nor perceived economic insecurity explain variations in current levels of support for tougher immigration restrictions among American workers. The theoretical significance of the findings are discussed and elaborated. Suggestions are made for future research in this important area of inquiry.
English - pp. 497-520.
S. Cummings, University of Louisville, U.S.A.
(UNITED STATES, IMMIGRATION POLICY, LABOUR MARKET, THEORY)
Research on gender in demography: Limitations and constraints.
This paper explores the issue of gender in demography, focusing on the question of why we don't know more than we do about the role of gender in demographic processes. Our lack of knowledge is partly explained by demography's research and policy focus on the two questions central to the field in recent decades, fertility decline and the relationship between economic and demographic change. The focus on these issues -- sometimes at the expense of other research questions and issues -- has meant that some social processes surrounding demographic change, including the role of gender, have not received the attention they deserve. Understanding gender's complex relationship to social behaviors, such as demographic behavior, requires attention to social/cultural context and to power. Demography needs to expand our knowledge of gender through the development of new research questions, research designs, and methodologies. Doing so will give us new insights into demographic processes.
English - pp. 521-538.
N. E. Riley, Department of Sociology/Anthropology, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, U.S.A.
(MEN'S ROLE, WOMEN'S ROLE, SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR, DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH)
99.88.17 - MEDOFF, Marshall H.
Estimates of the abortion demand of young and older teenagers.
This study estimates the demand for abortion by younger (ages 15-17) and older (ages 18-19) teenagers. The empirical results show, for both age groups, abortion demand is price inelastic and a normal good with respect to income. Teenage abortion demand is also found to be positively related to labor force participation and state Medicaid funding and negatively related to religiosity and unemployment. State family planning programs, AFDC benefits, and parental involvement laws are found not to be significant determinants of teenage abortion demand.
English - pp. 539-549.
M. H. Medoff, California State University, Long Beach, CA, U.S.A.
(UNITED STATES, INDUCED ABORTION, DEMAND, ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY)
99.88.18 - SPEIZER, Ilene S.; YATES, Andrew J.
Polygyny and African couple research.
Fertility and family planning research has recently begun to focus on couples, rather than solely on women. High levels of polygyny in sub-Saharan Africa create two interesting problems for couple analyses. First, some men match with multiple wives in a given sample. Hence observations of a dependent variable that are a function of the responses from a polygynous man are not statistically independent. To correct for this, we propose that researchers use the method of generalized estimating equations. The second problem occurs when survey questions do not properly account for men having multiple partners. Variables constructed from such questions may contain error. Until better data are available, we propose that researchers randomly select a wife for each polygynous man to reduce the effects of this error. We illustrate these ideas by studying the determinants of couples having innovative family planning behaviors and attitudes in Niger.
English - pp. 551-570.
I. S. Speizer, Department of International Health and Development, Tulane University School of Public Health, The New Orleans, U.S.A.
(AFRICA SOUTH OF SAHARA, COUPLE, POLYGAMY, DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH, METHODOLOGY)
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