The Educational Gradient of Childbearing within Cohabitation in Europe

Abstract

Nearly every European Country has experienced some increase in nonmarital childbearing, largely due to increasing births within cohabitation. Relatively few studies in Europe, however, investigate the educational gradient of childbearing within cohabitation or how it changed over time. Using retrospective union and fertility histories, we employ competing risk hazard models to examine the educational gradient of childbearing in cohabitation in eight countries across europe. In all countries studied, birth risks within cohabitation demonstrated a negative educational gradient. When directly comparing cohabiting fertility with marital fertility, the negative educational gradient persists in all countries except Italy, although differences were not significant in Austria, France, and West Germany. To explain these findings, we present an alternative explanation for the increase in childbearing within cohabitation that goes beyond the explanation of the Second Demographic Transition and provides a new interpretation of the underlying mechanisms that may influence childbearing within cohabitation.

The New Roles of Men and Women and Implications for Families and Societies

“…This in turn resulted in delayed marriage and births, rising childlessness, non-marital cohabitation, and partnership instability. Critics pointed out that even though the SDT conceptual framework included structural components of market economy and improving living conditions, labour market developments and the related increase in economic uncertainties were largely ignored when explaining family changes (Perelli-Harris et al 2010). Moreover, the SDT lacks an explicit gender perspective, notwithstanding its acknowledgement of women's increasing educational attainment and economic activity as part of societal changes (Bernhardt 2004).…”

Exploring social norms around cohabitation: The life course, individualization, and culture

“…Drawing on qualitative research from the U.S. (Reed 2006;Gibson-Davis, Edin, and McLanahan 2006;Manning and Smock 2005) and quantitative explanations and findings from Europe (e.g., Lesthaeghe 2010, Perelli-Harris et al 2010), Perelli-Harris developed a standardized guideline to investigate whether similar findings arose in Europe and Australia. The collaborators then met at a workshop to fine-tune the questionnaire and ensure that it captured key concepts in each country.…”

“…This extensive literature has made great strides towards understanding the trends (e.g., Perelli-Harris and Lyons-Amos 2015; Hoem et al 2009;Heuveline and Timberlake 2004;Andersson and Philipov 2002;Kiernan 2004), correlates (e.g. Hiekel, Liefbroer, and Poortman 2014;Perelli-Harris et al 2010;Wiik, Keizer, and Lappegård 2012), and effects of partnership formation (e.g., Hiekel and Castro-Martin 2014;Lyngstad et al 2011;Soons, Liefbroer, Kalmijn 2009). However, most of these studies are primarily the outcome of a structured process of data collection in which respondents fit their answers to predefined alternatives.…”

“…Recent major theoretical explanations of the increase in cohabitation rely on the concept of ideational change that shifts social norms, attitudes, and values (Lesthaeghe 2010;van de Kaa 2001;Perelli-Harris et al 2010;Thornton 2001;Thornton, Axinn, and Xie 2008). For example, the Second Demographic Transition perspective insists on the "profound shift in norms and attitudes regarding personal relationships, fertility, and the family that has led to dramatic rapid change in Europeans' demographic behavior" (van de Kaa 1987: 4).…”

Free to stay, free to leave: Insights from Poland into the meaning of cohabitation

“…Young couples are spending more and more time cohabiting, and a growing number of children are born and raised in informal unions Perelli-Harris et al 2010). It is therefore not surprising that researchers are increasingly interested in understanding how informal cohabitation differs from marriage, and why some individuals choose this living arrangement instead of marriage.…”