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Pathways to stepfamily formation in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Alexia Prskawetz

    (Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital (IIASA, OeAW, University of Vienna))

  • Henriette Engelhardt

    (Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg)

  • Dimiter Philipov

    (Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital (IIASA, OeAW, University of Vienna))

  • Andres Vikat

    (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE))

Abstract

Increasing proportions of couples are making childbearing decisions in stepfamilies but there has been no general comparative picture across European countries on stepfamily formation. The present paper aims to fill this gap and provides a comparison of European countries using macro-level indicators that describe union formation and dissolution and childbearing. We use the individual-level data files (standard recode files) of Fertility and Family Surveys from 19 European countries. Our results highlight the different pathways to a stepfamily in Europe, and show that in most European countries a considerable proportion of women form a stepfamily in childbearing ages, which needs to be considered in studies of fertility.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexia Prskawetz & Henriette Engelhardt & Dimiter Philipov & Andres Vikat, 2003. "Pathways to stepfamily formation in Europe," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 8(5), pages 107-150.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:8:y:2003:i:5
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2003.8.5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael Rendall & Lynda Clarke & H. Peters & Nalini Ranjit & Georgia Verropoulou, 1999. "Incomplete reporting of men’s fertility in the united states and britain: A research note," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 36(1), pages 135-144, February.
    2. Ursula Henz, 2002. "Childbirth in East and West German Stepfamilies," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 7(6), pages 307-342.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jan Van Bavel & Mieke Jansen & Belinda Wijckmans, 2012. "Has Divorce Become a Pro-Natal Force in Europe at the Turn of the 21st Century?," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 31(5), pages 751-775, October.
    2. Elizabeth Thomson & Maria Winkler-Dworak & Martin Spielauer & Alexia Prskawetz, 2012. "Union Instability as an Engine of Fertility? A Microsimulation Model for France," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 49(1), pages 175-195, February.
    3. Alexia Prskawetz & Jiang Leiwen & Brian C. O Neill, 2004. "Demographic composition and projections of car use in Austria," Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, vol. 2(1), pages 175-202.
    4. Andres Vikat & Zsolt Spéder & Antonella Pinnelli & Aline Désesquelles & Tineke Fokkema & Alphonse MacDonald & Ariane Pailhé & Anne Solaz & Francesco Billari & Jan M. Hoem & Christoph Bühler & Gijs Bee, 2007. "Generations and Gender Survey (GGS)," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 17(14), pages 389-440.
    5. Gerda Neyer & Gunnar Andersson, 2004. "Contemporary Research on European Fertility: Introduction," Demographic Research Special Collections, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 3(1), pages 1-14.
    6. Leen Rahnu & Allan Puur & Luule Sakkeus & Martin Klesment, 2015. "Partnership dynamics among migrants and their descendants in Estonia," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 32(56), pages 1519-1566.
    7. Andres Vikat & Elizabeth Thomson & Alexia Prskawetz, 2004. "Childrearing Responsibility and Stepfamily Fertility in Finland and Austria," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 20(1), pages 1-21, March.
    8. Steinbach, Anja & Kuhnt, Anne-Kristin & Knüll, Markus, 2015. "Kern-, Eineltern- und Stieffamilien in Europa: Eine Analyse ihrer Häufigkeit und Einbindung in haushaltsübergreifende Strukturen," Duisburger Beiträge zur soziologischen Forschung 2015-02, University of Duisburg-Essen, Institute of Sociology.
    9. Zsolt Spéder, 2007. "The diversity of Family structure in Europe: A survey on partnership, parenting and childhood across Europe around the millenium," Demográfia, Hungarian Demographic Research Institute, vol. 50(5), pages 105-134.
    10. Alexia Prskawetz & Tomáš Sobotka & Isabella Buber-Ennser & Henriette Engelhardt & Richard Gisser, 2008. "Austria: Persistent low fertility since the mid-1980s," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 19(12), pages 293-360.
    11. Michaela R. Kreyenfeld & Valerie Martin, 2011. "Economic conditions of stepfamilies from a cross-national perspective," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2011-010, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    12. Nicoletta Balbo & Francesco C. Billari & Melinda Mills, 2013. "Fertility in Advanced Societies: A Review of Research," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 29(1), pages 1-38, February.
    13. Tomáš Sobotka & Laurent Toulemon, 2008. "Overview Chapter 4: Changing family and partnership behaviour," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 19(6), pages 85-138.

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    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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