Economist Podcasts Going non-nuclear: East Asia’s changing families
Aug 28, 2023
Noah Snyder, Tokyo Bureau Chief for The Economist, discusses the evolving family structures in East Asia, where traditional norms are being challenged. He highlights the rise of premarital cohabitation, single parenthood, and two-income households across Japan, South Korea, China, and Taiwan. Snyder shares compelling stories, including that of a South Korean lesbian entrepreneur navigating cultural hurdles. The conversation hints at demographic changes and pressing economic pressures shaping these new family dynamics.
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The New Family Landscape
- Cohabitation, same-sex couples, single parents, two-income households, and divorce/remarriage are increasing.
- An aging population adds complexity, with "80-50" or "90-60" families emerging (elderly parents with middle-aged children).
Rise of Single Households
- Single-person households are rising, while nuclear families decline due to people avoiding marriage.
- In Japan, couples with children dropped from 42% (1980) to 25% (2020) of households, while single-person households rose from 20% to almost 40%.
Reasons for Marriage Decline
- Economic precarity and unaffordable housing/education costs deter marriage and children.
- Traditional gender roles clash with rising female education, making work-family balance difficult, leading some to opt out (South Korea's "bihon" movement).