MPIDR Working Paper

Family dynamics in pre- and post-transition Romania: a life-table description

Mureşan, C.
MPIDR Working Paper WP-2007-018, 70 pages.
Rostock, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (April 2007)
Revised July 2007
Open Access

Abstract

This study presents a life-table decription of a wide range of events concerning family formation and fertility in Romania, by contrasting two different periods in Romanian history: a period of authoritarian regime and centrally planned economy (1980-1989) and a period of democratic political regime and market-oriented economy (1996-2005). A large number of single- and multi-decrement life tables deals with leaving home, separating from the parental family, forming first union, direct marriage, cohabitation, childbearing in the context of cohabitation or marriage, separation and divorce, parenting (first birth and second birth). Perspectives of men and women, as well of couples and children, are considered. The main data source we used here is Generations and Gender Survey carried out in Romania in 2005. Our life-table analysis confirms the early stage of the Second Demographic Transition in Romania. However, in European context it still remains a society highly valuing marriage and childbearing, despite the evidence in family behaviour changes which have accompanied political and socio-economical transformations after the fall of communist regime.
Keywords: Romania, family dynamics
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