Economic Precariousness and the Transition to Parenthood: A Dynamic and Multidimensional Approach

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Demography
• Economics

Background:

• Economic precariousness is frequently cited as a reason for delayed childbearing in developed nations.
• Previous research often treats economic precariousness as static and one-dimensional, limiting understanding of its impact on fertility.
• A dynamic and multidimensional approach is needed to fully grasp the relationship between economic instability and family planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of dynamic and multidimensional economic precariousness on first birth rates.
• To differentiate between past and current income and employment precariousness.
• To analyze the effects of persistent and multidimensional precariousness on fertility behavior.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Dutch full-population register data.
• Followed individuals who left education in 2006 until 2018.
• Employed event history analyses to assess the effects of precariousness on first birth rates.

Main Results:

• Both current and past income and employment precariousness negatively affect men's first birth rates.
• Current and past employment precariousness, along with past income precariousness, reduce women's first birth rates.
• Current income precariousness was found to increase women's probability of first conception.
• Persistent, multidimensional precariousness led to a threefold decrease in men's monthly probability of first conception and nearly a halving for women.

Conclusions:

• Economic precariousness is a dynamic and multidimensional factor influencing fertility decisions.
• Static, one-dimensional analyses provide an incomplete picture of how economic instability affects childbearing.
• Future research should adopt dynamic and multidimensional frameworks to understand fertility trends.