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Can government policies reverse undesirable declines in fertility?

Author

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  • Elizabeth Brainerd

    (Brandeis University, USA, and IZA, Germany)

Abstract

Since 1989 fertility and family formation have declined sharply in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Fertility rates are converging on—and sometimes falling below—rates in Western Europe, most of which are below replacement levels. Concerned about a shrinking and aging population and strains on pension systems, governments are using incentives to encourage people to have more children. These policies seem only modestly effective in countering the impacts of widespread social changes, including new work opportunities for women and stronger incentives to invest in education.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth Brainerd, 2014. "Can government policies reverse undesirable declines in fertility?," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 1-23, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izawol:journl:y:2014:n:23
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

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    2. Borbála Júlia Szczuka, 2022. "Climate Change Concerns and the Ideal Number of Children: A Comparative Analysis of the V4 Countries," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 10(3), pages 206-216.
    3. Borbála Júlia Szczuka, 2022. "Climate Change Concerns and the Ideal Number of Children: A Comparative Analysis of the V4 Countries," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 10(3), pages 206-216.
    4. Xiao Jiang & Luis Villanueva, 2017. "World population stabilisation through Smithian increasing returns to labour: an update," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 34(4), pages 387-407, December.
    5. Roni Sikdar & Dhananjay W Bansod, 2025. "Does low fertility indicate better reproductive health status? Evidence from nationally representative survey in India," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 20(8), pages 1-15, August.
    6. Liu, Antung A. & Linn, Joshua & Qin, Ping & Yang, Jun, 2018. "Vehicle ownership restrictions and fertility in Beijing," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 85-96.
    7. Downes, Henry, 2025. "Did Organized Labor Induce Labor? Unionization and the American Baby Boom," SocArXiv kfcvs_v1, Center for Open Science.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy
    • P36 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - Consumer Economics; Health; Education and Training; Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty

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