Abstract
“Will highly educated women have more children in the future?” In this contribution,
I address this question by looking at both fertility and fertility intentions; i.e., the
number of children people plan to have over their reproductive lives. Intended births are highly correlated with actual births, and in low-fertility settings, childbearing has become associated with the couple’s agency.
On the other hand, education, which is a marker of income and social status, has remained an important driver of fertility choices. Hence, understanding the reproductive decision-making of women and men with low, medium, and high levels of education is crucial when seeking to determine whether – and if so, to what extent – there is scope for additional policy interventions aimed at raising fertility levels.
I address this question by looking at both fertility and fertility intentions; i.e., the
number of children people plan to have over their reproductive lives. Intended births are highly correlated with actual births, and in low-fertility settings, childbearing has become associated with the couple’s agency.
On the other hand, education, which is a marker of income and social status, has remained an important driver of fertility choices. Hence, understanding the reproductive decision-making of women and men with low, medium, and high levels of education is crucial when seeking to determine whether – and if so, to what extent – there is scope for additional policy interventions aimed at raising fertility levels.
| Originalsprache | Englisch |
|---|---|
| Fachzeitschrift | Vienna Yearbook of Population Research |
| Jahrgang | 15 |
| Publikationsstatus | Veröffentlicht - 2017 |
Österreichische Systematik der Wissenschaftszweige (ÖFOS)
- 504006 Demographie
- 504004 Bevölkerungsstatistik