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Czech Republic: A rapid transformation of fertility and family behaviour after the collapse of state socialism

Author

Listed:
  • Tomáš Sobotka

    (Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital (IIASA, OeAW, University of Vienna))

  • Anna Šťastná

    (Univerzita Karlova)

  • Kryštof Zeman

    (Vienna Institute of Demography (Austrian Academy of Sciences))

  • Dana Hamplová

    (Akademie věd České Republiky)

  • Vladimíra Kantorová

    (United Nations)

Abstract

Following the swift demise of the state-socialist regime in 1989, a profound transformation of family and fertility patterns has taken place in the Czech Republic. Family formation has been postponed and period fertility rates have fallen to very low levels, especially among young adults. Unmarried cohabitation has become relatively widespread and marriages have been progressively delayed or even foregone. These rapid shifts in family-related behaviour were primarily driven by a period change and resulted in a sharp discontinuity in cohort patterns of union formation and childbearing. We argue that the rapid change in family-related behaviour after 1990 was driven by a fundamental shift in the constraints and incentives for childbearing, which was conducive to later and more carefully planned family formation. The rapidity of observed changes can be explained as the outcome of a simultaneous occurrence of several factors, especially the expansion of higher education, the emergence of new opportunities competing with family life, increasing job competition, rising economic uncertainty in young adulthood, and changing partnership behaviour.

Suggested Citation

  • Tomáš Sobotka & Anna Šťastná & Kryštof Zeman & Dana Hamplová & Vladimíra Kantorová, 2008. "Czech Republic: A rapid transformation of fertility and family behaviour after the collapse of state socialism," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 19(14), pages 403-454.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:19:y:2008:i:14
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2008.19.14
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    fertility; childbearing; Europe; family; Czech Republic; state socialism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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