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

一段时间以来，理解人口转变--从高人口增长率向低人口增长率的转变--在人口学和人类学研究中一直很重要。这篇文化人类学研究检验了三种不同的理论对人类生育决定的解释(体现资本理论、生育道德经济理论和扩散理论)，因为它们适用于厄瓜多尔奥塔瓦洛的人口增长。这项研究试图了解男性生育决策中的因素；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；并测试关于影响家庭地位、健康、教育和财富的变量相互作用的假设。数据将来自对40名奥塔瓦洛居民的随机抽样的开放式采访；两组28份受访者拥有的子女支出和声望物品的免费清单；以及对200名受访者的调查；以及测试对数据的不同解读的焦点小组。这项研究的更广泛影响包括将提供的有关生育决策的新信息，这对关注厄瓜多尔人口和资源的规划者和决策者将是重要的。在一个南美人口密度最高的国家，适当的人口和经济政策至关重要。了解影响生育决定的因素对厄瓜多尔在地方和国家层面上的家庭和经济方案的设计和实施都是有用的。此外，这项研究将产生促进一般理论的信息，并将成为年轻社会科学家教育的重要因素。

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.