One of the major concerns about the one-child policy is its negative impact on the current and future labor force in China. People have talked about the Lewis Turning Point and the end of demographic dividends. Some of these arguments, however, can be misleading. The working-age population (ages 15 to 59) can be treated as the potential labor…

Most societies, rich and poor, seek to measure progress in reducing poverty and need, as indicated by material deprivation or social exclusion. The yardsticks used to assess progress and policy impact mainly include income-based poverty, but broader measures of poverty based on consumption, wealth, and material deprivation are also now coming into…

A European perspective on multicultural education is presented that focuses on demographic/geopolitical, public policy, and sociolinguistic dimensions, and the intercultural hypothesis. "Positive discrimination" and sociological insertion are also discussed, along with implications for America. (29 references) (LB)

Responds to an article by Strubell, "Language, Democracy, and Devolution in Catalonia," arguing that the nationalism that already exists is viewed as the norm and suggesting that the Catalan nationalism and its attempts at affirmative action are menacing. The paper worries that demographic realities might push Catalan nationalism into…

Reviews prior research on homelessness and describes what remains to be done. Calls for greater attention to the socioeconomic causes of homelessness, its image in the media, and public attitudes toward the problem. (DM)

Argues that increasing longevity suggests the value of a life course focus in family policy. Gerontologists can make a contribution by documenting and describing the gaps between needs and resources of families at all life stages, developing family indicators of social change, and sensitizing the public to the unintended consequences of current…

Examines subgroups of the homeless population and their needs for shelter. Argues that governments and charities should make distinctions among the highly diverse groups of the homeless and cease providing unlimited and unconditional aid to the able bodied, which tends to ensnare youth in the culture of dependency. (FMW)

This article discusses the connection between the availability of day care and early childhood education and the future of the U.S. economy by examining three key elements in the relationship: the family, the individual, and the nation as a whole. (IAH)

American attitudes toward foreign aid for population control have changed dramatically since the period following World War II, when birth control assistance was considered too controversial for government funding. With growing national and international concern about population growth and poverty in the developing nations and through the efforts…

The electronics revolution is changing way work is done and description of available jobs, shifting some jobs from office to home, and offering new communication services. Technology's impact on central business districts (CBDs) will depend on broad economic forces, but its effects on CBDs as business locations will be conditioned by local real…

Reports that poverty among American youth increased between 1959 and 1982. Suggests that this was a combined effect of high unemployment, cuts in social welfare programs, and, most significantly, the increase in households headed by single women. Presents statistics on family demographics, race, and income, and calls for more supportive public…

The 1965 Immigration Act has significantly influenced American institutions and agencies. This act, which focused on family reunification and desired occupational skills instead of racial origin, has resulted in a massive increase of immigrant students from Asia and Latin America without increased funding to educate and assimilate them. Reduction…

Argues that in Europe over several centuries, the relationship between democracy and language policy in multilingual countries has been complex, noting that Catalan has thrived in democratic periods where devolution has advanced, and the causes of most problems facing Catalan are nonlinguistic. The paper examines language and democracy, language…

This paper provides a critical review of empirical and theoretical underpinnings of current research on declining rates of fertility in western countries, particularly Canada. Section 1 describes contributions of demographic analysis to the explanation of declining fertility in western industrialized countries and elaborates on the limits of pure…

Three issues are discussed: the impact of computerization of society on the demand for teachers, the effect of constant decline in the birthrate on the teaching profession, and the stabilization of education against trends of factual de-schooling taking place in everyday life. (MSE)