Two young people, presumably man and woman, sit on a roof, only the legs are seen

Fertility decisions in crises: Policy lessons from COVID-19 and the Great Recession

By Agnieszka Chłoń-Domińczak & Anna Maliszewska
Fertility trends can be relatively crisis-resilient. Numbers from two recent major crises in Europe show this. However, not all countries were able to stabilise or rebuild their fertility trends. New research by the EU-funded FutuRes project’s team at the SGH Warsaw School of Economics looks into resilience as a core concept for demographic change. Based on a recent review of research literature, they discuss how policies can enhance fertility resilience.

Birth rates have decreased in all EU countries. Multiple crises have aggravated this trend. However, there are signs of crisis resilience in birth rates and family planning, as new research by the EU-funded project FutuRes shows. Read here what this means for policy.

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Low birth rates: Ten steps towards more baby-friendly policies for 2024 and beyond

by Anna Rotkirch, Population Research Institute, Väestöliitto (The Family Federation of Finland)
Europe needs to prevent a freefall of fertility rates, as currently witnessed in many countries in East Asia. But policymakers should avoid pointless strategies like coercion to get people to have more children. Research shows that people want more kids, but Europe is simply not baby-friendly enough. Here are the cost-effective ways to fix this.

 

Research shows that people want more kids, but Europe is simply not baby-friendly enough. Here are the cost-effective ways to fix this.

School Progress of Children is not Affected by Having Same-Sex Parents

School Progress of Children is not Affected by Having Same-Sex Parents

The largest and most up-to-date study performed so far shows that the school progress of children with parents of the same sex does not differ from their peers in the United States today. This study, published in the leading journal Demography, also provides large-scale evidence that children adopted by same-sex parents do as well as children adopted by different-sex parents.

The largest and most up-to-date study performed so far shows that the school progress of children with parents of the same sex does not differ from their peers in the United States today.

The Determinants of Fathers’ Parental Leave Use

The Determinants of Fathers’ Parental Leave Use

The use of parental leave by fathers notably varies between countries. However, the underlying reasons for cross-country differences have not been explicitly studied. In a recent article, researchers Eleonora Mussino, Jussi Tervola and Ann-Zofie Duvander used migration between Finland and Sweden as an instrument to deconstruct the roles of policy design and social norms in the differences in take-up rates between these two countries.

The use of parental leave by fathers notably varies between countries. However, the underlying reasons for cross-country differences have not been explicitly studied. 

Could a Basic Income Challenge Gender Equality?

Could a Basic Income Challenge Gender Equality?

The discussion about basic income as a social benefit has been discussed frequently and worldwide in the last few years. A new article by researchers Alison Koslowski and Ann-Zofie Duvander addresses the question, how a basic income might contribute to a change in gendered behaviour. The authors discuss the idea of a basic income from a perspective of gender equality in the Swedish context, where family policies have already led to high levels of female labour force participation and gender equality.

The discussion about basic income as a social benefit has been discussed frequently and worldwide in the last few years. A new article by researchers Alison Koslowski and Ann-Zofie Duvander addresses the question, how a basic income might contribute to a change in gendered behaviour. 

Equality Often Ends with the Birth of the First Child

Equality Often Ends with the Birth of the First Child

Can couples who equally share domestic work maintain their egalitarian ways after the birth of their first child? And how is subjective satisfaction with work-life balance related to equal arrangements? Researchers María José González, Irene Lapuerta, Teresa Martín-García and Marta Seiz recently published a study analysing 31 dual-earner couples in Spain who had practiced an egalitarian division of household tasks during pregnancy.

Can couples who equally share domestic work maintain their egalitarian ways after the birth of their first child? And how is subjective satisfaction with work-life balance related to equal arrangements?

Supporting All Family Models Equally is Not a Complex Policy Task

Supporting All Family Models Equally is Not a Complex Policy Task

By Rense Nieuwenhuis
Family diversity is not a new phenomenon, and it is here to stay. However, different types of families are not always equally supported by governments. Our recently published book focuses on the “triple bind” of single-parent families, and on the following question: How can societies support all family models? And while it is often suggested that family diversity would require a complex policy design, we believe otherwise. It does not have to be that complicated.
Books and Reports: Is the Last Mile the Longest? Economic Gains from Gender Equality in Nordic Countries

Is the Last Mile the Longest? Economic Gains from Gender Equality in Nordic Countries

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Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, commonly known as the Nordic countries, have been leaders in the development of modern family and gender policy, and the explicit promotion of gender equality at home, at work, and in public life. Today, on many measures, they boast some of the most gender-equal labour markets in the OECD. This report shows that improvements in gender equality have contributed considerably to economic growth in the Nordic countries.
Books and Reports: Lone Parenthood in the Life Course

Lone Parenthood in the Life Course

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Lone parenthood is an increasing reality in the 21st century, reinforced by the diffusion of divorce and separation. This volume provides a comprehensive portrait of lone parenthood at the beginning of the XXI century from a life course perspective. The contributions included in this volume examine the dynamics of lone parenthood in the life course and explore the trajectories of lone parents in terms of income, poverty, labour, market behaviour, wellbeing, and health.
Having a Second Child with a New Partner After Separation

Having a Second Child with a New Partner After Separation

There is a lot of research about the role of social policies in fertility behaviour in contemporary societies particularly with a focus on work and family reconciliation policies. Much less, however, is known about how social policies affect fertility behaviour after separation. In a new study, Kreyenfeld et al. (2017) explore how union dissolution influences when people have a second child and how the impact varies by education and national policy context.

There is a lot of research about the role of social policies in fertility behaviour in contemporary societies particularly with a focus on work and family reconciliation policies. Much less, however, is known about how social policies affect fertility behaviour after separation. In a new study, Kreyenfeld et al. (2017) explore how union dissolution influences when people have a second child and how the impact varies by education and national policy context. Read more.

 

 

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