Display options
Cite
Baizan P, Arpino B, Delclòs CE. The Effect of Gender Policies on Fertility: The Moderating Role of Education and Normative Context. Eur J Popul. 2016;32:1-30doi: 10.1007/s10680-015-9356-y.
Baizan, P., Arpino, B., & Delclòs, C. E. (2016). The Effect of Gender Policies on Fertility: The Moderating Role of Education and Normative Context. European journal of population = Revue europeenne de demographie, 321-30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10680-015-9356-y
Baizan, Pau, et al. "The Effect of Gender Policies on Fertility: The Moderating Role of Education and Normative Context." European journal of population = Revue europeenne de demographie vol. 32 (2016): 1-30. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10680-015-9356-y
Baizan P, Arpino B, Delclòs CE. The Effect of Gender Policies on Fertility: The Moderating Role of Education and Normative Context. Eur J Popul. 2016;32:1-30. doi: 10.1007/s10680-015-9356-y. Epub 2016 Feb 15. PMID: 27069290; PMCID: PMC4803818.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Eur J Popul. 2016;32:1-30. doi: 10.1007/s10680-015-9356-y. Epub 2016 Feb 15.

The Effect of Gender Policies on Fertility: The Moderating Role of Education and Normative Context.

European journal of population = Revue europeenne de demographie

Pau Baizan, Bruno Arpino, Carlos Eric Delclòs

Affiliations

  1. ICREA, Barcelona, Spain ; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 25 Ramon Trias Fargas Street, 08005 Barcelona, Spain.
  2. Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 25 Ramon Trias Fargas Street, 08005 Barcelona, Spain.

PMID: 27069290 PMCID: PMC4803818 DOI: 10.1007/s10680-015-9356-y

Abstract

In this paper, we aim to assess the extent to which individual-level completed fertility varies across contexts characterized by policies supporting different gender division of labor models. We examine key labor market and care policies that shape gender relations in households and in the public domain. We also consider the role of gender norms, which can act as both a moderator and a confounding factor for policy effects. We hypothesize that, by facilitating role compatibility and reducing the gendered costs of childrearing, policies that support gender equality lead to an increase in fertility levels and to a reduction in fertility differentials by the level of education. Using individual-level data from the European Union Survey on Income and Living Conditions for 16 countries, combined with country-level data, we analyze completed fertility through multilevel Poisson's models. We find that the national level of childcare coverage is positively associated with fertility. Family allowances, prevalence of women's part-time employment and length of paid leaves were also found to be positively associated with completed fertility, though the associations were not statistically significant. These variables show a significant positive pattern according to education. A high number of average working hours for men are negatively associated with completed fertility and show a strong negative pattern by educational level. The prevalence of gender-egalitarian norms is highly predictive of fertility levels, yet we found no consistent evidence of a weaker association of gender-equality policies in countries where egalitarian values are less prevalent.

Keywords: Europe; Fertility; Gender division of labor; Gender inequality; Gender norms; Gender policies

References

  1. Int J Biostat. 2010 Apr 22;6(1):Article 16 - PubMed
  2. J Popul Econ. 1989 Sep;2(2):79-102 - PubMed
  3. Demography. 2002 May;39(2):369-92 - PubMed
  4. J Popul Econ. 1998;11(2):161-83 - PubMed
  5. AJS. 2010 Mar;115(5):1480-523 - PubMed

Publication Types