Expected Family Size and Family Size Values in West Germany

Freedman, Ronald; Baumert, G.; Bolte, Martin

doi:10.2307/2172406

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Ryder and Westoff (1969) compare responses to questions on desired, intended, and expected number of children among American women and find insignificant differences between intended and expected number of children and only slightly higher desired numbers of children. Freedman et al (1959) find higher desired than expected fertility among West German adults in 1958, but their question on desired fertility is qualified by if financial and other conditions of life were very good, which suggests a more hypothetical situation where having children is less costly.…”

Section: Measure Of Wanted Fertilitymentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Researchers have long recognized the possibility that family size norms play a role in fertility desires and attainment (Freedman et al 1959;Blake 1966;Gustavus and Nam 1970;Caldwell 1982;Preston 1987;Rindfuss et al 1988;Kohler 2001;among others). Many observers believe that an increasing acceptance of non-traditional life styles such as voluntary childlessness and a greater emphasis on personal fulfillment (which conflicts with the traditional high fertility family according to the argument) contributes to the decline in fertility (e.g., Lesthaeghe and Surkyn 1988;Van de Kaa 1987.…”

Section: Societal Fertility Normsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Are Individuals’ Desired Family Sizes Stable? Evidence from West German Panel Data

2008

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Using West German panel data constructed from the 1988 and 1994/ 1995 wave of the DJI Familiensurvey, we analyze the stability and determinants of individuals' total desired fertility. We find considerable variation of total desired fertility across respondents and across interviews. In particular, up to 50% of individuals report a different total desired fertility across survey waves. Multivariate analysis confirms the importance of background factors including growing up with both parents, having more siblings, and being Catholic for preference formation. Consistent with the idea that life course experiences provide new information regarding the expected costs and benefits of different family sizes, the influence of background factors on total desired fertility is strong early in life and weakens as subsequent life course experiences, including childbearing, take effect. Accounting for unobserved individual heterogeneity, we estimate that an additional child may increase the total desired fertility of women with children by 0.14 children, less than what conventional estimates from cross-sectional data would have suggested.

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Section: Measure Of Wanted Fertilitymentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Societal Fertility Normsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Individuals’ Desired Family Sizes Stable? Evidence from West German Panel Data

2008

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“…Third, it raises questions as to why there are discrepancies between ideal and actual family sizes. For example, Freedman, Baumert & Bolte (1959) suggest that the ideal exceeds actual family size in developed countries because of economic constraints, although fertility impairments could also represent an important factor here. On the other hand, the fact that approximately one-fifth of married males had larger families than their stated ideal suggests that there is also a desire for smaller families amongst some sections of the Northern Irish population.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ideal family size in Northern Ireland

Coward

1981

J. Biosoc. Sci

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“…Previous research has shown that achieved family size may bear little relationship to expected family size (Freedman, Baumert & Bolte, 1960); but all earlier studies have relied on retrospective, and highly questionable, information about family intentions at marriage. Follow-up interviews with the Hull couples, which will begin in 1970, will reveal the extent to which these early preferences may have been modified by changing social circumstances; more importantly, they will provide the opportunity to determine precisely what these circumstances are.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Hull Family Survey

Peel

1970

J. Biosoc. Sci.

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This paper describes the main findings of the first stage in a planned longitudinal study of marriage and family planning amongst a representative sample of recently married couples in a northern city. The long-term aim of the research is to evaluate, by means of interviews repeated at successive 5-year intervals in the lives of these couples, the relationship between intended and achieved family size and to assess the factors associated with relative success and failure. The initial series of interviews provides much new information on patterns of mate selection, marriage and family planning intentions; it also represents the only recent survey of contraceptive behaviour during the first year of marriage.The major determinants of family-building behaviour are assessed and, amongst these, religion is found to be the most significant. Its effects are, however, mitigated by considerable marrying out amongst Catholics. The notion of the married couple as a rational decision-making unit in matters of family planning is supported by this survey and there is a relationship between desired family size and the efficacy of contraceptive usage. Two points of major methodological interest in fertility analysis are discussed. John Peelthe publicity appropriate to such a novel technique. There have also been marked Research procedure

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Expected Family Size and Family Size Values in West Germany

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

Are Individuals’ Desired Family Sizes Stable? Evidence from West German Panel Data

Are Individuals’ Desired Family Sizes Stable? Evidence from West German Panel Data

Ideal family size in Northern Ireland

The Hull Family Survey

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