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.
