The Low Birth Rate Trap in Moscow: Highly-Educated Childfrees?

The article analyzes actual and normative reproductive behavior of the Muscovites. It demonstrates that high birth rate in Moscow is largely determined by women of reproductive age who are migrating from province. Having used data of sociologic study entitled Moscow and the Muscovites (“Moskva i moskvichi”), we define the character of relation between education and birth rate, as well as how the figures differ in Moscow and in Russia in whole. The paper discusses a childfree phenomenon which is spreading widely in Moscow. It is the growing women’s education level that influences the most on declining birth rate, while family income practically does not affect the number of children. The more the proportion of childless families is, the less judgmental the society becomes. Constant delay in giving birth is the result of shift in priorities towards education and career fraught with childlessness. Moscow with its demographic development and a focus on new social behavior patterns, largely following those of western cities, can be considered as an innovative region that eventually translates its practices to other major Russian cities. An expanding childfree phenomenon in Russian megalopolises which lack such a strong migration inflow may lead to aggravation of low birth rate problems. We give recommendations on further socio-demographic development of the region