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The Effects of the Great Recession on Family Structure and Fertility

Author

Listed:
  • Andrew Cherlin
  • Erin Cumberworth
  • S. Philip Morgan
  • Christopher Wimer

Abstract

Recessions can alter family life by constraining the choices that individuals and couples make concerning their family lives and by activating the family’s role as an emergency support system. Both effects were visible during and after the Great Recession. Fertility declined by 9 to 11 percent, depending on the measure, and the decline was greater in states that experienced higher increases in unemployment. The decline was greater among younger women, which suggests postponement rather than forgoing of births. The fall in fertility was sharpest for Hispanics, a result the authors attribute to a drop in Mexican immigration, which reduced the number of recent immigrants, the group with the highest fertility. Substantial increases occurred in the percentage of young adults, single and married, who lived with their parents, augmenting a long-term trend toward intergenerational coresidence. There was a slight decline in divorce and separation in states with higher unemployment.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew Cherlin & Erin Cumberworth & S. Philip Morgan & Christopher Wimer, 2013. "The Effects of the Great Recession on Family Structure and Fertility," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 650(1), pages 214-231, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:650:y:2013:i:1:p:214-231
    DOI: 10.1177/0002716213500643
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Konstantinos N. Zafeiris & Georgios Kontogiannis & Byron Kotzamanis, 2024. "The evolution of fertility in Greece since the 1960s: a joinpoint regression analysis," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 41(4), pages 1-20, December.
    2. Anna Barbuscia & Ariane Pailhé & Anne Solaz, 2023. "Do Income and Employment Uncertainty Affect Couple Stability? Evidence for France During the COVID-19 Pandemic," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 39(1), pages 1-35, December.
    3. Katherine Tierney, 2022. "The Future of Assisted Reproductive Technology Live Births in the United States," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(5), pages 2289-2309, October.
    4. repec:osf:osfxxx:jxyvn_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Anna Matysiak & Daniela Bellani & Honorata Bogusz, 2023. "Industrial Robots and Regional Fertility in European Countries," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 39(1), pages 1-36, December.
    6. Sarah Jiyoon Kwon, 2024. "Grandparents and parental labor supply during the COVID-19 pandemic," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 935-964, September.
    7. Adriana M. Reyes, 2022. "Race and Ethnic Differences in Financial Dependency of Coresident Young Adults During Economic Recessions and Over Time," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 43(1), pages 51-65, March.
    8. repec:osf:socarx:4sjvm_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Martha J. Bailey & Lea Bart & Vanessa Wanner Lang, 2022. "The Missing Baby Bust: The Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic for Contraceptive Use, Pregnancy, and Childbirth Among Low-Income Women," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(4), pages 1549-1569, August.
    10. Gonzalez, Fidel & Quast, Troy, 2022. "The relationship between abortion rates and economic fluctuations," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    11. Karel Neels & Leen Marynissen & Jonas Wood, 2024. "Economic Cycles and Entry into Parenthood: Is the Association Changing and Does it Affect Macro-Level Trends? Micro-Level Hazard and Simulation Models of Belgian Fertility Trends, 1960–2010," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 40(1), pages 1-34, December.
    12. Kwon, Sarah Jiyoon, 2023. "Grandparents and Parental Labor Supply during COVID-19 Pandemic," OSF Preprints jxyvn, Center for Open Science.
    13. Andrew L. Owen, 2022. "The Fracking Boom, Labor Structure, and Adolescent Fertility," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(5), pages 2211-2231, October.
    14. Daniel Dench & Wenhui Li & Theodore Joyce & Howard Minkoff & Gretchen Wye, 2024. "Fertility in the Heart of the COVID-19 Storm," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 43(4), pages 1-20, August.
    15. Mizuki Komura & Hikaru Ogawa, 2022. "COVID-19, marriage, and divorce in Japan," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 831-853, September.
    16. Margherita Carlucci & Barbara Ermini & Gloria Polinesi & Luca Salvati, 2023. "Toward a ‘reverse density dividend’? Population growth and socioeconomic evolution of Greek districts before and after crisis," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(6), pages 5137-5155, December.
    17. Georgios Mavropoulos, 2024. "What drives period fertility rates during post-recession spells?," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 41(4), pages 1-26, December.
    18. Vakulenko, E. & Ryzhkina, A., 2024. "APC modeling of the relationship between birth order fertility rates and economic shocks in Russia," Journal of the New Economic Association, New Economic Association, vol. 64(3), pages 84-102.

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