Explaining Dutch Fertility Rates in a Comparative European Perspective
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12658191 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Arieke J Rijken (0000-0002-3254-8316, Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University , Heidelberglaan 2, 3584 CS, Utrecht, corresponding author), Trudie Knijn (0000-0002-7248-9170, Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University , Heidelberglaan 2, 3584 CS, Utrecht) |
| Year | 2008 |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 763-786 |
| Publication date | 2008-12-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | European Societies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1461-6696 • E-ISSN: 1469-8307 |
| Publisher | Routledge (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/14616690701744372 |
| OpenAlex | W1588527480 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 21 |
This article contributes to the search for explanations of the cross-national variation in fertility rates by studying the influence of social policy, economic and cultural factors on fertility in the former EU15, while giving special attention to one case: The Netherlands. This country lacks good social policy for supporting parents to combine work and care and nevertheless has a relatively high fertility rate. This article addresses the backgrounds of that phenomenon, using comparative macro level data from several sources, such as ‘the child benefit package’, the European Values Studies, OECD and Eurostat. We argue that bivariate relationships cannot explain cross-national variation in fertility rates. Therefore, we analyse configurations of factors, which shows among others that high availability of part-time jobs for women constitutes only part of the explanation for the Dutch fertility level. Good economic prospects and high male wages in combination with relatively low female human capital make that Dutch families can afford children at their own costs when men work full-time and women work part-time. Therefore, the low level of social policy that supports parents in the indirect or direct costs of children does not result in low fertility rates
Demographic economics · Economics · European Social Survey · Fertility · Political science · Population · Public economics · Sociology · Total fertility rate · Yearbook · Demography · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Social Policy and Reform Studies
Constructing social research
A Treatise on the Family
Comparative Public Policy
Social Foundations of Postindustrial Economies
The Rules of Sociological Method
Changing family life in Europe
Varieties of familialism
The World Turned Upside Down
Combining work and care in the polder model
The emergence of Sub-Replacement Family Size Ideals in Europe
Fertility, Family, and Social Policy in Contemporary Western Europe
Childrearing and Fertility
When Does Religion Influence Fertility
Relative Income and Price of Time
Entry into motherhood in Sweden
Critical Social Policy
The Uses of Comparative History in Macrosocial Inquiry
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,12 |
| Citation span | 2009 - 2013 (5) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |