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The Impact of Public Policy on Fertility Rates in OECD Countries: A Comparative Study

Reibstein, Lena LU (2017) EKHS01 20171
Department of Economic History
Abstract
Since the 1980s, fertility rates in OECD countries stayed almost stable at levels below replacement (2.1 children on average per woman), which can have significant feedback effects on the social welfare system. While females still have the desire to form a family, this wish competes with career ambitions, leading to persistently low fertility rates due to the potential incompatibility of family and work. To counter that development, countries implemented a wide range of family policies which aim at facilitating the combination of family and work, especially for females, and the increase of
family income. While some countries, especially in Northern Europe, nowadays reach fertility rates around replacement level again, other countries... (More)
Since the 1980s, fertility rates in OECD countries stayed almost stable at levels below replacement (2.1 children on average per woman), which can have significant feedback effects on the social welfare system. While females still have the desire to form a family, this wish competes with career ambitions, leading to persistently low fertility rates due to the potential incompatibility of family and work. To counter that development, countries implemented a wide range of family policies which aim at facilitating the combination of family and work, especially for females, and the increase of
family income. While some countries, especially in Northern Europe, nowadays reach fertility rates around replacement level again, other countries still exhibit levels below replacement. This paper addresses the question whether family policies indeed infuence fertility significantly or if other mechanisms are responsible for changes in fertility levels. Using policy and demographic data from 22 OECD countries, the influence of policy packages implemented will be tested in a multivariate regression analysis. The results suggest that policies aiming at facilitating the combination of family and work as well as governmental spending in general have a significantly positive impact on fertility rates, while the extension of the length of leave schemes and family benefits seem to lower fertility. (Less)
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author
Reibstein, Lena LU
supervisor
organization
course
EKHS01 20171
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
fertility, family policy, OECD
language
English
id
8918310
date added to LUP
2017-06-29 13:45:36
date last changed
2017-06-29 13:45:36
@misc{8918310,
  abstract     = {{Since the 1980s, fertility rates in OECD countries stayed almost stable at levels below replacement (2.1 children on average per woman), which can have significant feedback effects on the social welfare system. While females still have the desire to form a family, this wish competes with career ambitions, leading to persistently low fertility rates due to the potential incompatibility of family and work. To counter that development, countries implemented a wide range of family policies which aim at facilitating the combination of family and work, especially for females, and the increase of
family income. While some countries, especially in Northern Europe, nowadays reach fertility rates around replacement level again, other countries still exhibit levels below replacement. This paper addresses the question whether family policies indeed infuence fertility significantly or if other mechanisms are responsible for changes in fertility levels. Using policy and demographic data from 22 OECD countries, the influence of policy packages implemented will be tested in a multivariate regression analysis. The results suggest that policies aiming at facilitating the combination of family and work as well as governmental spending in general have a significantly positive impact on fertility rates, while the extension of the length of leave schemes and family benefits seem to lower fertility.}},
  author       = {{Reibstein, Lena}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Impact of Public Policy on Fertility Rates in OECD Countries: A Comparative Study}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}