Where Are the Babies? Labor Market Conditions and Fertility in Europe

Alicia Adsera

No 1576, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Cross-country differences in both the age at first birth and fertility are substantial in Europe. The paper uses the European Community Household Panel 1994-2000 to investigate the relationship between unemployment of both women (and their spouses) with the timing and number of children. Maternity postponement is acute in countries with high and persistent unemployment since the mid 1980s. Moreover, the paper examines how fertility varies, for a similar level of unemployment, as a function of country-specific institutional arrangements. Wide access to part-time and to permanent positions (such as those in the public sector) is correlated with faster transitions to births. Short-term contracts are associated with delayed fertility instead.

Keywords: fertility; short-term contracts; part-time; public sector; unemployment; maternity benefits (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H3 J13 J2 J6 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 48 pages
Date: 2005-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eec
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (15)

Published - published in: European Journal of Population, 2011, 27 (1), 1 - 32

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Journal Article: Where Are the Babies? Labor Market Conditions and Fertility in Europe (2011)
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