To concentration of reproduction in cohorts of US and European women

Abstract

Concentration of reproduction designates the amount of inter-individual diversity among women in respect to number of children they have. It is measured by the concentration ratio, Havehalf and Halfhave statistics. Trends and intercountry differences in the concentration of reproduction for female cohorts with completed fertility are analyzed for the USA and 19 European countries. The decline described by prior studies has reversed first in the USA and then in Western and Eastern Europe. At present, concentration of reproduction tends to increase. This trend is predominantly determined by growing childlessness. Increases in shares of women with one child and decreases in numbers of women with two children produce additional effect in some countries. Concentration of reproduction is relatively high in West Germany, Anglo-Saxon countries and Finland and is low in most of the East European countries. Countries of Western and Southern Europe experience an intermediate level. Further analyses are based on the US survey microdata. Education-race groups of American women experience a wide range of fertility regimes. Low average fertility and higher concentration of reproduction are found in advanced groups, least qualified groups experienced higher average fertility and lower concentration of reproduction. Childlessness depends on education mostly through time in partnership, while professional activity increases risk of childlessness in partnership. In spite of the large inter-groups differences, the general level of concentration of reproduction is mostly explained by inter-individual diversity within each group. Results suggest a growing division of labor among women reflecting their orientation toward family vs. work career. Future family policies should focus not only on majority of "working women", but also addressing more specifically their preferences. Cohor t BulgariaCzech Republic Hungary Russia Slovenia

Childlessness and the concentration of reproduction in Austria

“…With the emergence of the two child norm, the concentration of fertility decreased, i.e., less women stayed childless and less women gave birth to more than two children. This trend can be observed in all western countries as shown in international comparative studies (Shkolnikov et. al.…”

“…One data source frequently used in international comparisons (e.g., Frejka et al 2001, Shkolnikov et al, 2004 are register data that allow us to calculate parity progression rates from age and parity specific fertility rates. In order to calculate parity progression rates it is essential that the vital statistics registration of births record births by parity and age of mother.…”

“…The data of the population census 2001 allow us to distinguish women by educational attainment and, therefore, to conduct a study comparable to Shkolnikov et al (2004) that has a strong focus on the link between childlessness, the concentration of reproduction, and education. In addition, we are able study the interactions between educational tracks, professions, and childlessness that are especially strong concerning tertiary education.…”

“…We follow the same general scheme of analysis as Shkolnikov et al (2004). First, we look at overall trends of birth concentration, finding that childlessness is a major component of the recent increase in birth concentration.…”

Regularities and peculiarities of birth schedules in industrialized countries: an analysis of FFS data

“…In respect to the number of children women have (quantum), inter-individual diversity is increasing in industrialized countries from older to younger cohorts, beginning from the cohorts born in the 1930s-40s (Shkolnikov et al 2004). It means that a kind of "specialization" of population reproduction Goodwin, 1987, Lutz, 1989) could be emerging among women in a way that different fractions of female population are making more and more uneven contributions to the overall production of offspring.…”