Volume 13 - Article 23 | Pages 573–596  

Modelling regional variation of first-time births in Denmark 1980-1994 by an age-period-cohort model

By Lau Caspar Thygesen, Lisbeth B. Knudsen, Niels Keiding

Abstract

Despite the small size of Denmark, there have traditionally been rather consistent regional differences in fertility rates. We apply the statistical age-period-cohort model to include the effect of these three time-related factors thereby concisely illuminating the regional differences of first-time births in Denmark. From the Fertility of Women and Couples Dataset we obtain data on number of births by nulliparous women by year (1980-1994), age (15-45) and county of residence. We show that the APC-model describes the fertility rates of nulliparous women satisfactorily. To catch the regional variation an interaction parameter between age and county is necessary, which provides a surprisingly good description suggesting that the county-specific age-distributions of first-time fertility rates differ. Our results are in general agreement with the 'moral geography' concepts of Tonboe (2001).

Author’s Affiliation

• Lau Caspar Thygesen - Statens Institut for Folkesundhed, Denmark EMAIL
• Lisbeth B. Knudsen - Aalborg University, Denmark EMAIL
• Niels Keiding - Københavns Universitet, Denmark EMAIL

Other articles by the same author/authors in Demographic Research

Rates of induced abortion in Denmark according to age, previous births and previous abortions
Volume 21 - Article 22

Education and second birth rates in Denmark 1981-1994
Volume 17 - Article 8

TFR for males in Denmark: Calculation and tempo-correction
Volume 32 - Article 52

Cause-specific measures of life years lost
Volume 29 - Article 41

Cohort fertility patterns in the Nordic countries
Volume 20 - Article 14

Biological and sociological interpretations of age-adjustment in studies of higher order birth rates
Volume 19 - Article 31

The Fertility Pattern of Twins and the General Population Compared: Evidence from Danish Cohorts 1945-64
Volume 6 - Article 14

Most recent similar articles in Demographic Research

Amish fertility in the United States: Comparative evidence from the American Community Survey and Amish population registries
Volume 52 - Article 26    | Keywords: American Community Survey (ACS), Amish, fertility, natural fertility, total fertility rate (TFR)

Examining the relationships between education, coresidential unions, and the fertility gap by simulating the reproductive life courses of Dutch women
Volume 52 - Article 24    | Keywords: contraception, education, fertility, GGS, life course, LISS, microsimulation, Netherlands, physiology, unions

Job creation, job destruction, and fertility in Germany
Volume 52 - Article 13    | Keywords: fertility, gender, Germany, job creation, job destruction, labor market, spatial modelling, unemployment

The changing inter-relationship between partnership dynamics and fertility trends in Europe and the United States: A review
Volume 52 - Article 7    | Keywords: childbearing, Europe, family complexity, fertility, fertility, marriage, partnership, United States of America

Educational trends in cohort fertility by birth order: A comparison of England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland
Volume 51 - Article 36    | Keywords: birth order, cohort analysis, cross-national study, England, family size, fertility, Northern Ireland, parity, Scotland, Wales