[Postmaterialism and fertility]

"Though changes in values have been analysed [for] two decades, their impact on actual behaviour has almost been neglected. This especially is the case with values concerning marriage and the family which [have been] responsible for behavioural changes. Here, the impact of emerging postmaterialistic values on fertility are analysed, deriving from the assumption that the effect of children on the general life-style is large enough to let fertility behaviour be influenced by general value orientations. The main result is that the emergence of postmaterialism has led to postponement of parenthood whereas the number of children is left untouched." (SUMMARY IN ENG)