Ex-nuptial births and unmarried cohabitation in Australia

The authors examine fertility trends among unmarried couples in Australia. It is found that consensual couples with illegitimate births "are frequently of lower socio-economic status than couples with nuptial births although they do not differ from married couples in their attitudes to marriage and having children. We argue that uncertain economic circumstances make some couples hesitate to marry; instead they decide to live in de facto relationships in which unplanned pregnancies occur."