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The Popular Debate about Low Fertility: An Analysis of the German Press, 1993–2001

Author

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  • Laura Stark

    (Princeton University)

  • Hans-Peter Kohler

    (University of Pennsylvania)

Abstract

Despite increasing research on the causes, consequences, and measurement of low fertility, questions about the nature and the extent of popular concerns over low fertility have yielded more speculation than examination. We address this gap in the literature through an analysis of 328 German newspaper and news magazine articles mentioning low fertility from 1993 to 2001. Our analysis reveals a paradox: while fertility rates have remained well below replacement levels and governmental discussions of low fertility have increased, discussion of low fertility as a concern in and of itself has been small and unchanging over time. We find this to be true because the problem of low fertility is rarely invoked as a concern in its own right, but is most often used as a tool in the popular debate to discuss other problems – political, economic, and cultural.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Stark & Hans-Peter Kohler, 2004. "The Popular Debate about Low Fertility: An Analysis of the German Press, 1993–2001," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 20(4), pages 293-321, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eurpop:v:20:y:2004:i:4:d:10.1007_s10680-004-1695-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s10680-004-1695-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Joëlle Sleebos, 2003. "Low Fertility Rates in OECD Countries: Facts and Policy Responses," OECD Labour Market and Social Policy Occasional Papers 15, OECD Publishing.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hans Peter Kohler, 2006. "Book Review," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 22(4), pages 423-429, December.
    2. Eileen Díaz McConnell & Michael Rodríguez-Muñiz, 2023. "Exploring Popular Sentiments of U.S. Ethnoracial Demographic Change: A Research Brief," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(6), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Katerina Georgiadis, 2011. "Fertile Debates: A Comparative Account of Low Fertility in the British and Greek National Press [Des débats féconds: analyse comparative de la prise en compte des faibles fécondités dans les presse," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 27(2), pages 243-262, May.

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    Keywords

    Fertility; Germany; media; newspaper;
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