Pop digests

PopDigests

PopDigests are short, comprehensive summaries of research results with a link to the original publication (if accessible online). This allows population experts and other interested audiences to be able to easily access information to the latest research results. 

Housing Market is Crucial for Higher Fertility

Housing Market is Crucial for Higher Fertility

Often fertility rates are analysed at the country level. However, it is also often disregarded that there are economic, political and cultural regional differences within a country, which have a considerable influence on the respective opportunity structure of women and families. In a recent article, Martin Bujard and Melanie Scheller examine cohort fertility rates for all German districts. They provide a broad overview of factors influencing birth behaviours at a local level and to what extent these factors can explain regional differences.
Measuring Male Fertility Rates by Making Use of Facebook Data

Measuring Male Fertility Rates by Making Use of Facebook Data

Can social media channels like Facebook be used to analyse fertility data? According to recent research, it can be. In a paper by Francesco Rampazzo, Emilio Zagheni, Ingmar Weber, Maria Rita Testa and Francesco Billari, they sought out to determine if anonymous and aggregate data from Facebook advertising can be a viable source for fertility data. This is particularly relevant when looking at developing countries, where official data is less available.
Exploring Ethnic and Racial Discrimination with Carpooling Data

Exploring Ethnic and Racial Discrimination with Carpooling Data

Decades of social science research provide plenty of evidence on ethnic and racial discrimination in various areas of society based on ethnographic work and analysis of traditional data sources. Online markets offer a new perspective to study the diverse settings in which ethnic discrimination can occur and provide new channels to test assumptions about why and how members of ethnic or racial groups are being discriminated against.
Socio-economic Resources of One Partner are Related to Health Status of the Other Partner

Socio-economic Resources of One Partner are Related to Health Status of the Other Partner

Inequalities in health are not only caused by biological determinants, but also by social determinants like income or education. One’s own socio-economic position has been shown to often be an important predictor for health and mortality. A recently published article by Jenny Torssander, Heta Moustgaard, Riina Peltonen, Fanny Kilpi and Pekka Martikainen sheds further light on the assumption that not only someone’s own resources affect health and mortality, but the resources of the partner one lives with also play a role.
How Does Commitment Work in Living-Apart-Together Partnerships?

How Does Commitment Work in Living-Apart-Together Partnerships?

Studies in a range of Western countries have shown that about 10% of all adults are in a relationship in which the partners do not live together. This is often seen as an expression of the individualisation of societies. However, little is known about how commitment in these so-called living-apart-together (LAT) relationships actually works. This is explored in a new study by Roselinde van der Wiel, Clara H. Mulder and Ajay Bailey by using an extended version of the Investment Model of Commitment.

Studies in a range of Western countries have shown that about 10% of all adults are in a relationship in which the partners do not live together. This is often seen as an expression of the individualisation of societies. However, little is known about how commitment in these so-called living-apart-together (LAT) relationships actually works. This is explored in a new study by Roselinde van der Wiel, Clara H. Mulder and Ajay Bailey by using an extended version of the Investment Model of Commitment.

Understanding Low Fertility in Postindustrial Countries

Understanding Low Fertility in Postindustrial Countries

What Explains the Gap between Fertility Ideals and Intentions?
Fertility rates in many postindustrial societies are now below 1.5 children per woman. At the same time, the majority of young adults throughout the postindustrial world say that a family with two children is ideal. Many young adults say they would like to have two children, but expect to have fewer. What explains this gap between fertility ideals and intentions?
The Importance of Regional Context for the Wellbeing of Spousal Caregivers

The Importance of Regional Context for the Wellbeing of Spousal Caregivers

The growing demand for long-term care (LTC) and its adequate provision is one of the challenges of societies facing population ageing. The majority of care work in Europe is provided by family members and this demanding task can be a stressful experience for the person giving care. In a recent study, Melanie Wagner and Martina Brandt questioned whether the availability of regional formal care could contribute to improve the wellbeing of caregivers.

The growing demand for long-term care (LTC) and its adequate provision is one of the challenges of societies facing population ageing. The majority of care work in Europe is provided by family members and this demanding task can be a stressful experience for the person giving care. In a recent study, Melanie Wagner and Martina Brandt questioned whether the availability of regional formal care could contribute to improve the wellbeing of caregivers.