Šeimos politika ir gimstamumo veiksnių analizė

Abstract

Principal concepts: indices of the birth rate, mortality, marriages and divorces, natural succession of generations, a marriage, a divorce, a child, a family Significant and fast changes, pertaining to the family and birth rate, have been occurring in the countries of Europe as well as in Lithuania since the middle of seventies of the XX-th century. Their main features are as follows: the birth rate decreases to the extent, which does not ensure succession of generations, the number of marriages decreases, people of older age get married, non-stability of marriages increases, the number of non-registered marriages increases, children are born from mothers of the older age, families have less children, the number of single and childless people increases. Researchers’ and politicians’ attention should be particularly drawn to this situation, seeking to evaluate the principal factors, which predetermine the birth rate and to decide, which actions should be taken so as to direct changes of the birth rate towards the positive line. The goal of the policy, regarding the family, is to ascertain the prerogatives of the family model, to create the conditions of the autonomous functioning of families, to support families in implementing their function, to stimulate families and their members as regards execution of their functions, which are compulsory for the family and the society. The main purpose of the thesis “Policy, regarding the family, and analysis of the birth rate factors” is to investigate and to evaluate the most important economic, social and cultural factors, which predetermine the low birth rate and to clarify, which political measures would improve this situation. Unequal distribution of the household jobs and supervision of the children in the family serves as one of the cultural factors, through which the rate of birth decreases. A new economic role, when a woman both works and builds her career, also influences a low birth rate. Combining of the job and family functions is still perceived as the woman’s problem. Thus, attempts are taken to activate the husband’s/father’s role in the family life. At present the index of occupation of women, expressed in percents, increases. However, men’s responsibility for taking care of their children and household jobs remains at the same level. In the course of investigation the author also strived for ascertainment of men’s view upon the fatherhood leave and for ascertainment of the factors, which would stimulate men to undertake responsibility for taking care of their children.