Pokles pôrodnosti na Slovensku ako deviácia a ako výskumný problém
The Birth Rate Decline in Slovakia as a Deviance and Research Problem

Summary/Abstract: The Birth Rate Decline in Slovakia as a Deviance and Research Problem. The study provides a theoretical analysis of the problem of present birth rate decline in Slovakia and the reasoning of the orientation of its next research. The classical theory of demographic revolution has failed to explain the birth rate decline occurred in developed countries during the last few decades. The new phenomenon has been called "second demographic revolution" (D. J. van de Kaa). There are many indications that Slovakia has undergone this process from the early 1990s, too. The statistical prognoses estimate that the population decline in Slovakia will occur in seven to 15 years. The empirical data on recent demographic development in Slovakia are presented in the first part of the study. The second part of the study offers a brief overview of the theories of birth rate determinants. The factors of second demographic revolution, its main dimensions (ideational, technological and practical) and its mechanisms are discussed in the third part of the study. The special attention is given to the question of institutionalisation of second demographic revolution. The relationship between the second demographic revolution and the institutions of modern market and democratic societies is characterised in the fourth part of the study. The threat to family and to institution of marriage is pointed out. The orientation of the next research of birth rate decline in Slovakia is outlined in the fifth part of the study. The authors suggest that the variety of factors of a birth rate could be influenced by the profound changes in many spheres of the life of society (cultural, economic, social) and they stress the special importance of the research of the main dimensions of second demographic revolution.

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