Intrahousehold bargaining power, intergenerational influence, and women's fertility preferences in Indonesia: insights from longitudinal panel data

This study examines how post-marital residence, women’s decision-making authority, and intergenerational influence shape fertility preferences in Indonesia. Drawing on longitudinal data from the Indonesian Family Life Survey (1997–2014) and fixed-effects panel models, the analysis focuses on women with unstable fertility preferences—those whose preferences vary over time. The study is framed by the Second Demographic Transition (SDT), which anticipates declining fertility and rising individual autonomy, and the Reformasi period, which reshaped household structures and gender roles. Results show that greater decision-making authority among wives is associated with lower fertility preferences, particularly when intergenerational influence is present—supporting SDT expectations. Matrilocal residence significantly reduces fertility preferences, reflecting increased female agency in the post-Reformasi era. Economic status moderates intergenerational influence: dominant parents lower fertility preferences in lower-income households, while parents-in-law reinforce pronatalist norms in economically dependent families. However, these influences weaken in wealthier households, where couples exert greater autonomy. The findings highlight how fertility preferences are shaped by the interplay of autonomy, intergenerational dynamics, and economic conditions across the life course. This study contributes to SDT literature by demonstrating how macro-level social transitions—such as changing family structures and evolving gender roles—are expressed in household-level fertility decisions in a developing country context.