TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kravdal, Øystein
T1  - The impact of individual and aggregate unemployment on fertility in Norway
Y1  - 2002/04/05
JF  - Demographic Research
JO  - Demographic Research
SN  - 1435-9871
SP  - 263
EP  - 294
DO  - 10.4054/DemRes.2002.6.10
VL  - 6
IS  - 10
UR  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol6/10/
L1  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol6/10/6-10.pdf
L2  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol6/10/6-10.pdf
N2  - Continuous-time hazard models are estimated from register-based birth, migration, education and unemployment histories for the complete Norwegian population, linked with aggregate data for municipalities. The analysis covers the period 1992-98. First-birth rates are slightly higher among women who had been unemployed twelve months before than among others, whereas higher-order birth rates are slightly lower. 

Although men’s unemployment  has a more pronounced negative effect, according to paternity rate models, the overall conclusion is that unemployment in Norway has had a negligible impact on fertility through individual-level effects. Aggregate-level effects are more important. Higher-order birth rates are lower in municipalities where men’s or women’s unemployment is high than elsewhere. All in all, the peak unemployment level of 6% experienced in 1993 is found to be associated with a reduction of about 0.08 in total fertility. 

The results accord well with economic theories for first and higher-order births that are based on the assumption that women are still the primary caretakers.

ER  -