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Understanding low fertility in Poland

Author

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  • Joanna Z. Mishtal

    (University of Central Florida)

Abstract

After the state socialist regime of Poland collapsed in 1989, the nation’s total fertility rate plummeted from 2.1 to 1.27 by 2007. Simultaneously, Poland severely reduced social service provisions and restricted access to family planning. A three-month mixed-methods research study was conducted in 2007 in Gdańsk to investigate Polish women’s reproductive intentions and decision making. These data reveal that discriminatory practices by employers against pregnant women and women with small children are decisive in women’s decisions to postpone or forego childbearing. The case of Poland demonstrates the urgent need to redress fundamental gendered discrimination in employment before work-family reconciliation policies can be effective.

Suggested Citation

  • Joanna Z. Mishtal, 2009. "Understanding low fertility in Poland," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 21(20), pages 599-626.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:21:y:2009:i:20
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2009.21.20
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Anna Baranowska, 2011. "Premarital conceptions and their resolution. The decomposition of trends in rural and urban areas in Poland 1985-2009," Working Papers 27, Institute of Statistics and Demography, Warsaw School of Economics.
    2. Ji-Hye Kim & Sarah Soyeon Oh & Suk Won Bae & Eun-Cheol Park & Sung-In Jang, 2019. "Gender Discrimination in the Workplace: Effects on Pregnancy Planning and Childbirth among South Korean Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-12, July.
    3. Podogrodzka, Małgorzata, 2011. "Zachowania Prokreacyjne Na Obszarach Miejskich I Wiejskich W Polsce W Latach 1990–2009," Village and Agriculture (Wieś i Rolnictwo), Polish Academy of Sciences (IRWiR PAN), Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development, vol. 2(151).
    4. Podogrodzka, Małgorzata, 2012. "Bezrobocie Determinantą Przestrzennego Zróżnicowania Płodności Według Miejsca Zamieszkania W Polsce W Latach 1999–2009," Village and Agriculture (Wieś i Rolnictwo), Polish Academy of Sciences (IRWiR PAN), Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development, vol. 1(154).
    5. Małgorzata Podogrodzka, 2012. "Determinanty przestrzennego zróżnicowania płodności w Polsce w latach 1999-2009," Collegium of Economic Analysis Annals, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of Economic Analysis, issue 28, pages 145-164.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    fertility; childbearing; employment; Europe; Poland; gender equality; mixed methods; employment discrimination; neoliberalism; fertility decisions; postsocialist countries;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

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

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