교육과 출산 간의 연계성에 관한 거시-미시 접근

Abstract

교육 관련 요인들은 저출산 현상에 심대한 영향을 끼치고 있는 것으로 볼 수 있다. 그간의 연구들은 미시적 수준에서 고학력화로 인해 결혼이나 출산이 지연되는 문제나 과중한 양육·교육비 부담이 저출산을 유발하는 문제를 다루고 있다. 그러나 개인의 미시적 수준의 의사결정은 거시적 차원의 사회문화적, 구조적 요인들에 의하여 영향을 받는다고 볼 수 있다. 이러한 관점에서 본 연구는 교육과 저출산 현상 간의 연계성을 살펴봄에 있어 거시-미시를 연계하여 분석하고자 한다.

This study aims to examine the complicated link between education and fertility, focusing on how macro-level factors influence micro-level decisions with respect to marriage and family formation. After constructing the conceptual framework of educational influence on fertility, quantitative and qualitative analyses are followed to explore the link between education and fertility. Lastly, policy implications for increasing the fertility rate are discussed. Education fever in Korea appears to be a major cause for low fertility. The financial burden of childrearing hinders fertility rate, in particular. The quantitative analysis confirms the fact that increased education cost drops fertility rate. College tuition and private tutoring fee are especially related to low fertility. Qualitative analysis also improves understanding of the link between education and low fertility. Educational attainment is positively related to age at first employment and marriage due to labor market situation. In addition, excessive parental desire for children’s future career success restricted the ideal number of children, under the social atmosphere of credentialism and poor employment rate in labor market. Based on these results, two policy implications are suggested. First, full governmental support on childrearing is necessary. Second, parenting style fixated on academic achievement should be redirected to focusing more on emotional support for children to develop social skills and character suitable for contemporary Korean society.