Preference Theory and Low Fertility: A Comparative Perspective

Agnese Vitali, Francesco Billari, Alexia Fürnkranz-Prskawetz and Maria Rita Testa
Additional contact information
Agnese Vitali: Carlo F. Dondena Centre for Research on Social Dynamics, Università Bocconi
Maria Rita Testa: Vienna Institute of Demography, Austrian Academy of Sciences

No 702, European Demographic Research Papers from Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna

Abstract: The discussion on the causes of the most recent fertility decline in Europe, and in particular on the emergence of lowest low fertility, emphasises the relevance of cultural factors in addition to economic ones. Being part of such a cultural framework, the heterogeneity of preferences concerning the "career vs. family" dichotomy has been systematised in the "Preference Theory" approach developed by Catherine Hakim. So far, however, this heterogeneity in preferences has been underinvestigated in a comparative framework. This paper makes use of new comparative data from the 2004/05 Round of the European Social Survey to test the links between individual-level preferences and both fertility outcomes and intentions in a variety of social settings. Results confirm a link between work-family lifestyle preferences and realised fertility in a variety of European countries, while they do not support the relevance of lifestyle preferences for fertility intentions.

Keywords: Preference Theory; low and lowest low fertility; Europe; European Social Survey; welfare regime. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 36 pages
Date: 2009-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eec and nep-upt
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Preference Theory and Low Fertility: A Comparative Perspective (2009)
Working Paper: Preference theory and low fertility: A comparative perspective (2007)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:vid:eudgrp:0702

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