Living and breeding in sin in Europe
The European Union just released 2004 data on ferility rates for the EU 25 countries. Here’s the interesting chart: eurobirths.gif As you can see, there appears to be a positive correlation between higher birth rates and the percentage of births outside of wedlock. Is this driving the results? Not necessarily. In a 2004 Journal of ...
The European Union just released 2004 data on ferility rates for the EU 25 countries. Here's the interesting chart:
The European Union just released 2004 data on ferility rates for the EU 25 countries. Here’s the interesting chart:
![eurobirths.gif]()
eurobirths.gif
As you can see, there appears to be a positive correlation between higher birth rates and the percentage of births outside of wedlock. Is this driving the results? Not necessarily. In a 2004 Journal of Population Economics paper, Alicia Adsera provided another explanation for the variation in birth rates: the structure of labor markets:
During the last two decades fertility rates have decreased and have become positively correlated with female participation rates across OECD countries. I use a panel of 23 OECD nations to study how different labor market arrangements shaped these trends. High unemployment and unstable contracts, common in Southern Europe, depress fertility, particularly of younger women. To increase lifetime income though early skill-acquisition and minimize unemployment risk, young women postpone (or abandon) childbearing. Further, both a large share of public employment, by providing employment stability, and generous maternity benefits linked to previous employment, such as those in Scandinavia, boost fertility of the 25?29 and 30?34 year old women.
To read a draft of the whole thing, click here.
Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School at Tufts University and the author of The Ideas Industry. Twitter: @dandrezner
More from Foreign Policy
The Scrambled Spectrum of U.S. Foreign-Policy Thinking
Presidents, officials, and candidates tend to fall into six camps that don’t follow party lines.
What Does Victory Look Like in Ukraine?
Ukrainians differ on what would keep their nation safe from Russia.
The Biden Administration Is Dangerously Downplaying the Global Terrorism Threat
Today, there are more terror groups in existence, in more countries around the world, and with more territory under their control than ever before.
Blue Hawk Down
Sen. Bob Menendez’s indictment will shape the future of Congress’s foreign policy.
Sign up for World Brief
FP’s flagship evening newsletter guiding you through the most important world stories of the day. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.