The Reproductive Paradox of a “Strong Family” Society: The Case of Low Fertility in Italy

Chiara Saraceno

QA - Rivista dell'Associazione Rossi-Doria, 2005, issue 1

Abstract: Fertility rates are below replacement level in most industrialised countries. There are, however, substantial cross-country differences. On the basis of an ample demographic and sociological literature and of comparative data, the author argues that the Southern European countries, and particularly Italy, present a specific constellation of all the elements which are nowadays associated with low fertility: delay in the formation of new families, persistent gender asymmetries in practice but also partly in legislation, strong reliance on intergenerational solidarity in the face of a residualistic Welfare State. All these elements combine to reduce the options open to the young and subject women of all ages to considerable tension. (Non-) decisions on fertility are a way of dealing with these constraints and tensions.

Keywords: Fertility; Gender; Female Employment; Equal Opportunity; Welfare State (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J10 J11 J13 J16 J18 J22 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2005
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:rar:journl:0011

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