Laboratory

Fertility and Well-Being

At a Glance Projects Publications Team

Research Area

Contemporary and Future Trends in Fertility

The 20^th century witnessed substantial declines in human fertility and population growth rates. At the same time, global populations experienced unprecedented improvements in socioeconomic development. The negative relationship between fertility and socioeconomic development has been one of the most robust and widely accepted empirical patterns in the social sciences. In the late 20^th and early 21^st centuries, however, a number of highly developed countries experienced increases in fertility levels, renewed declines, or broader shifts in established fertility patterns. Projects in this research area deepen understanding of contemporary fertility trends and disentangle the complex socioeconomic and demographic processes that shape fertility outcomes.

Socioeconomic and demographic factors both appear to have shaped recent period fertility trends. A key demographic mechanism is the postponement of births, which temporarily suppresses fertility levels. When postponement slows, fertility may rebound. Socioeconomic factors, including broader development processes and changing economic conditions, have also been linked to fertility dynamics. Recent research highlights growing heterogeneity in fertility responses across educational groups, labor-market positions, and partnership contexts. However, the extent to which socioeconomic development influences fertility postponement remains poorly understood. This research area thus provides a comprehensive account of the interrelations between socioeconomic development, economic security, fertility postponement, and both short- and long-term fertility trends.

Projects of this Research Area