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AbstractThis paper summarizes the evidence on trends in gender and socio‐economic gaps in educational attainment in different parts of the world, and in the discourse on these trends. There remains a significant emphasis given to gender gaps in spite of much evidence pointing towards the rapidly narrowing, and in many cases, reversal in gender gaps in educational attainment, versus evidence of widening socioeconomic gaps. The paper moves on to consider factors influencing these trends and some policy implications. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

For many years now, the Malaysian government's population policy has included both a growth component and a distribution component. The growth component, adopted in the Second Malaysia Plan (1971–75) and still in force, was the goal of reducing the rate of population growth from 3 per cent to 2 per cent by 1985. The distribution component, first enunciated in a coherent way in the Mid-Term Review of the Second Malaysia Plan, is a strategy for regional development with direct population redistribution consequences. The Third Malaysia Plan (1976–80) elaborated the population situation and goals in greater detail but their broad thrust remained essentially unchanged. The Fourth Plan (1981–85), while maintaining the target of lowered growth rates, emphasized the quality of human resources and was sanguine about the prospects for economic development far outstripping the rate of population growth. Indeed, earlier concern with unemployment had been replaced by worries about the emergence of labour shortages.

Population size and rates of change in Malaysia 1947-80. Population growth in Peninsular Malaysia 1970-80. Recent mortality rates. Levels and trends of fertility. Changes in age structure and nuptiality patterns. Knowledge and practice of contraception. The goal of a 70 million population for the country. (DÜI-Sen)

This article contextualizes and highlights findings from the 14 articles included in this special issue that aims to examine emerging dimensions in Asia. The articles cover a wide range of topics and all make an original contribution to our understanding of different aspects of marriage in the region. The vast diversity in East, Southeast, and South Asia continues to be observed ranging from universal marriage and the high prevalence of child marriages in some countries to high singlehood rates in others. This issue explores the extent to which the "second demographic transition" occurs in Asia, documenting the rising cohabitation, singlehood, and divorce in the Philippines, China, Indonesia, and Taiwan. Transnational marriages in Singapore and South Korea and remarriage patterns in Thailand are also examined. The rise in women's education remains a key determinant of union formation behavior empowering women in making decisions about whether, when, and to whom they marry.