Low Second Birth Rates in Eastern and Southern Europe: Interactions between Economic Uncertainty and Norms about Parenthood

Abstract

Opportunities and constraints for young adult people in the labour market are strongly affected by their childrearing responsibilities, which are, in turn, a product of their fertility. Given the unequal gender division of labour in childcare and household chores, this holds for women in particular. At the same time, economic welfare is strongly affected by labour market activity, and economic welfare strongly affects opportunities and constraints for family life, including childrearing. An insight into the relationship between economic uncertainty and childbearing is, therefore, also relevant for understanding labour market dynamics.