Doctoral Dissertation Research: Evaluating Explanatory Theories of the Demographic Transition in Otavalo Ecuador

一段时间以来，理解人口转型——从高人口增长率到低人口增长率的转变——在人口和人类学研究中一直很重要。本文的文化人类学研究测试了人类生育决策的三种不同理论解释（体现资本理论、生育道德经济理论和扩散理论），并将其应用于厄瓜多尔奥塔瓦洛的人口增长。这项研究试图了解影响男性生育决定的因素；分析与生育决策有关的个人属性、经济条件和社会规范之间的复杂关系；并测试了影响家庭地位、健康、教育和财富的变量之间相互作用的假设。数据将来自对40名奥塔瓦洛居民随机抽样的开放式访谈；两套共28份的免费清单，列出了受访者子女的开支和拥有的贵重物品；一项针对200名受访者的调查；焦点小组来测试对数据的不同解释。这项研究的更广泛的影响包括提供有关生育决策的新信息，这对关心厄瓜多尔人口和资源的规划者和决策者将是重要的。作为南美洲人口密度最高的国家，适当的人口和经济政策至关重要。了解影响生育决策的因素对厄瓜多尔地方和国家层面的家庭和经济项目的设计和实施很有帮助。此外，这项研究将产生信息，以推进一般理论，将是一个重要的因素，在一个年轻的社会科学家的教育。

Understanding the demographic transition -the shift from high population growth rates to low rates--has been important in demographic and anthropological research for some time. This dissertation research in cultural anthropology tests three different theoretical explanations of human fertility decisions (the embodied capital theory, the moral economy of childbearing theory, and diffusion theory) as they apply to population growth in Otavalo, Ecuador. The study seeks to understand factors in male reproductive decisions; analyzes the complex relationship between individual attributes, economic conditions and social norms as they pertain to reproductive decisions; and tests hypotheses regarding the interaction of variables that affect the status, health, education, and wealth of families. Data will be drawn from open ended interviews with a random sample of 40 Otavalo residents; two sets of 28 free lists of the expense of children and prestige items owned by respondents; and a survey of 200 respondents; and focus groups to test diverse interpretations of the data. The broader impacts of the study include the new information about fertility decision-making to be provided, which will be important for planners and decision makers concerned with Ecuador's population and resources. In a country that has the highest population density in South America, appropriate population and economic policy is crucial. Understanding what influences fertility decisions is useful for the design and implementation of family and economic programs in Ecuador, both at the local and national levels. In addition the study will generate information to advance general theory and will be an important factor in the education of a young social scientist.