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Optimal age at motherhood. Theoretical and empirical considerations on postponement of maternity in Europe

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Author Info
Siv Gustafsson () (Department of Economics, University of Amsterdam, Roetersstraat 11, 1018 WB Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

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Abstract

The age at which women become mothers has increased to an all time high in most European countries in the past decennia. This increase of age at first birth is the main explanatory variable for the rapid decrease in fertility in European countries which has occurred at different points of time earlier in North and West Europe than in South Europe. To understand the development of the period fertility rate it is therefore crucial to understand the determinants of optimal age at maternity. This paper reviews empirical and theoretical literature and tries to give suggestions on future research directions. The econometric so called timing and spacing literature has used current female wages and male incomes as the main explanatory variables. However, theoretical research identifies on the one hand consumption smoothing, and on the other hand career planning of the woman as the main explanations to the postponement of maternity.

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Publisher Info
Article provided by Springer in its journal Journal of Population Economics.

Volume (Year): 14 (2001)
Issue (Month): 2 ()
Pages: 225-247
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Handle: RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:14:y:2001:i:2:p:225-247

Note: Received: 23 September 1999/Accepted: 15 May 2000
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Related research
Keywords: Postponement of maternity · economic theories of timing of fertility;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics

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  1. Karsten Hank, 2004. "Effects of Early Life Family Events on Women’s Late Life Labour Market Behaviour: An Analysis of the Relationship between Childbearing and Retirement in Western Germany," MEA discussion paper series 04047, Mannheim Research Institute for the Economics of Aging (MEA), University of Mannheim. [Downloadable!]
  2. Tarja K. Viitanen, 2007. "Informal and Formal Care in Europe," IZA Discussion Papers 2648, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
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  3. Johannes Huinink & Michaela Kreyenfeld, 2004. "Family formation in times of social and economic change: an analysis of the 1971 East German cohort," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2004-013, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany. [Downloadable!]
  4. Michaela Kreyenfeld, 2004. "Fertility Decisions in the FRG and GDR: An Analysis with Data from the German Fertility and Family Survey," Demographic Research Special Collections, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 3(11), pages 275-318, April. [Downloadable!]
  5. David Coleman & Joop Garssen, 2002. "The Netherlands:Paradigm or Exception in Western Europe’s Demography?," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 7(12), pages 433-468, September. [Downloadable!]
  6. Michaela Kreyenfeld, 2006. "Der Einfluss der ‚Wende’ auf bildungsspezifische Fertilitätsunterschiede in Ostdeutschland," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2006-025, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany. [Downloadable!]
  7. Teresa Martín-García, 2009. "The effect of education on women's propensity to be childless in Spain: Does the field of education matter?," Carlo Alberto Notebooks 114, Collegio Carlo Alberto. [Downloadable!]
  8. Hans-Peter Kohler & Iliana Kohler, 2001. "Fertility decline in Russia after 1990: the role of economic uncertainty and labor market crises," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2001-013, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany. [Downloadable!]
  9. Martin Dribe & Maria Stanfors, 2009. "Education, Work and Parenthood: Comparing the Experience of Young Men and Women in Sweden," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 30(1), pages 32-42, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  10. Vladimíra Kantorová, 2004. "Education and Entry into Motherhood: The Czech Republic during State Socialism and the Transition Period (1970-1997)," Demographic Research Special Collections, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 3(10), pages 245-274, April. [Downloadable!]
  11. repec:ese:iserwp: is not listed on IDEAS
  12. Francesco C. Billari & Guido Tabellini, 2008. "Italians are Late: Does it Matter?," NBER Chapters, in: Demography and the Economy National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!]
  13. O'Donoghue, Cathal & Meredith, David & O'Shea, Eamon, 2009. "Postponing Maternity in Ireland," IZA Discussion Papers 4192, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
  14. Anna Matysiak & Daniele Vignoli, 2009. "Finding the "right moment" for the first baby to come: A comparison between Italy and Poland," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2009-011, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany. [Downloadable!]
  15. Zamac, Jovan & Hallberg, Daniel & Lindh, Thomas, 2008. "Low fertility and long run growth in an economy with a large public sector," CAFO Working Papers 2009:5, Centre for Labour Market Policy Research (CAFO), School of Management and Economics, Växjö University. [Downloadable!]
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  16. Cordula Zabel, 2006. "Employment experience and first birth in Great Britain," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2006-029, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany. [Downloadable!]
  17. Monstad, Karin & Propper, Carol & Salvanes, Kjell G, 2008. "Education and Fertility: Evidence from a Natural Experiment," CEPR Discussion Papers 6816, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  18. Siv Gustafsson & Seble Y. Worku, 2006. "Marriage Markets and Single Motherhood in South Africa," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 06-102/3, Tinbergen Institute. [Downloadable!]
  19. Vegard Skirbekk & Hans-Peter Kohler & Alexia Fürnkranz-Prskawetz, 2003. "Completing education and the timing of births and marriage: findings from a birth-month experiment in Sweden," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2003-017, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany. [Downloadable!]
  20. Jan M. Hoem & Gerda R. Neyer & Gunnar Andersson, 2005. "Childlessness and educational attainment among Swedish women born in 1955-59," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2005-014, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany. [Downloadable!]
  21. Jan M. Hoem & Gerda Neyer & Gunnar Andersson, 2006. "Education and childlessness," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 14(15), pages 331-380, May. [Downloadable!]
  22. Michaela Kreyenfeld, 2004. "Fertility decisions in the FRG and GDR," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2004-008, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany. [Downloadable!]
  23. Karsten Hank, 2004. "Effects of Early Life Family Events on Women’s Late Life Labour Market Behaviour: An Analysis of the Relationship between Childbearing and Retirement in Western Germany," MEA discussion paper series 04047, Mannheim Research Institute for the Economics of Aging (MEA), University of Mannheim. [Downloadable!]
  24. Michaela Kreyenfeld, 2005. "Economic uncertainty and fertility postponement: evidence from German panel data," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2005-034, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany. [Downloadable!]
  25. Catalina Amuedo-Dorantes & Jean Kimmel, 2004. "The Motherhood Wage Gap for Women in the United States: The Importance of College and Fertility Delay," Economic Working Papers at Centro de Estudios Andaluces E2004/07, Centro de Estudios Andaluces. [Downloadable!]
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