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BACKGROUNDWith rising union instability across Europe, more individuals now re-enter the partner market and eventually repartner. The increase in cohabitation may also be influencing repartnering behaviour. While several studies examine individual-level characteristics related to repartnering, few take a broader view and compare repartnering levels or explore how demographic characteristics associated with repartnering differ across Europe. OBJECTIVEWe describe levels of repartnering and the characteristics of those exposed to repartnering in 11 European countries. We then examine whether the relationship between women's demographic characteristics at union dissolution and repartnering are similar or different across countries. Given the recent increase in cohabitation, we pay particular attention to prior cohabitation and marriage, but we also compare age at first union dissolution, first union duration, and presence of children. METHODSUsing the Harmonized Histories database, we apply discrete-time hazard models separately by country and to pooled cross-national data. RESULTSDespite large differences in levels of repartnering, in most countries we find similar associations between demographic characteristics and repartnering. First union type did not matter after controlling for age and children, except in France, where those who previously cohabited had significantly lower risks of repartnering. Age at union

Since the collapse of state socialism in Poland in 1989, a rapid decline in fertility has been observed in parallel with educational expansion. Polish women with university degree tend to postpone their childbearing, and often have fewer children than their less educated counterparts. Thus, an increase in the number of highly educated women may have an impact on the future fertility development of a country. The birth of a first child is fairly universal in women’s lives in Poland, hence, this study focuses on the transition to the second child. Using the Employment, Family and Educational Survey (2006), several piecewise exponential models were estimated. The analyses reveal a strong negative effect of women’s education on the second birth risk. We conclude that Polish women with university degree are exposed to higher opportunity costs, and these are not addressed adequately by existing family policies and labour market regulations related to working mothers. Zusammenfassung In Polen wurde nach dem Systemumbruch im Jahr 1989 ein starker Geburteneinbruch beobachtet, der nahezu parallel von einer Bildungsexpansion begleitet wurde. Der schnell steigende Anteil junger hoch gebildeter Frauen sollte sich stark auf die zukünftige Fertilitätsentwicklung Polens auswirken, denn Akademikerinnen bekommen nicht nur später, sondern auch weniger Kinder. Die Studie lenkt den Fokus auf das Zweitgeburtsverhalten, da die Geburt des ersten Kindes in Polen weiterhin als universell gilt. Die empirischen Ergebnisse auf Basis des Employment, Family and Education Surveys (2006) zeigen eine mit steigendem Bildungsniveau signifikant sinkende Zweitgeburtenrate. Hochschulabsolventinnen sind in Polen mit hohen Opportunitätskosten konfrontiert, die nur eingeschränkt von den geltenden familienpolitischen Maßnahmen und Arbeitsmarktregulierungen minimiert werden.