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Changing fertility rates in developed countries. The impact of labor market institutions

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  • Alícia Adserà

Abstract

During the last two decades fertility rates have decreased and have become positively correlated with female participation rates across OECD countries. I use a panel of 23 OECD nations to study how different labor market arrangements shaped these trends. High unemployment and unstable contracts, common in Southern Europe, depress fertility, particularly of younger women. To increase lifetime income though early skill-acquisition and minimize unemployment risk, young women postpone (or abandon) childbearing. Further, both a large share of public employment, by providing employment stability, and generous maternity benefits linked to previous employment, such as those in Scandinavia, boost fertility of the 25–29 and 30–34 year old women. Copyright Springer-Verlag 2004

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  • Alícia Adserà, 2004. "Changing fertility rates in developed countries. The impact of labor market institutions," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 17(1), pages 17-43, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:17:y:2004:i:1:p:17-43
    DOI: 10.1007/s00148-003-0166-x
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    J1; J22; H5; Fertility; unemployment; labor market institutions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • H5 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies

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