Abstract

The first demographic transition refers to the shift from high fertility and mortality rates to low fertility and mortality rates, usually measured at replacement level of fertility. During this transition, social engineering may work well. However, when a society enters the second demographic transition (SDT), characterized by fertility fluctuating below replacement level, people may prioritize more individual accentuation and secularization over traditional family structures. This is the early hypothesis of the SDT, based on European experiences, where below replacement level of fertility is accompanied by changes in social norms. However, mixed results have been found in non-Western countries. This presentation shares our study on Indonesia, a diverse Muslim-majority country, where some provinces/regions have experienced below-replacement levels of fertility. Are there any changes in family institutions accompanying low fertility in Indonesia? Our study puts together scattered quantitative and qualitative data related to SDT in Indonesia.