Editorial to the Special Issue „Fertility Dynamics in Austria, Germany and Switzerland“

Abstract

Over the past several years, the interest for childbearing issues and trends has increased considerably among politicians, scientists, journalists and the general public in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Low fertility and the prospects of population ageing have triggered the interest. Coverage of this topic often focused on concerns to sustain economic growth and the social welfare system. Against this background, an interdisciplinary working group of experts was established in 2009 with the aim to prepare a “state of the art”-report on “A Future with Children – Fertility and Social Development in Germany, Austria and Switzerland”, conducted under the leadership of the Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften and the Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften Leopoldina, funded by the Jacobs Foundation. Contrary to the “defi cit-oriented” viewpoint of having too few children, the aim of the group was to offer a constructive, future-oriented discussion on the causes of low fertility in the three countries, Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Four subgroups were established focusing on the following topics: “History and Theory of Population Development”, “Demographic Analysis of Fertility Development”, “Family Development and Policy, and Medical Aspects of Fecundity and its Relevance for Society”. The report, which was fi nalised in autumn 2011, will be published by Campus under the title ”Zukunft mit Kindern. Fertilitat und gesellschaftliche Entwicklung in Deutschland, Osterreich und der Schweiz” (Stock et al. 2012). The book includes chapters on “Fertility in a Historical Perspective”, “Theories of Fertility”, “Demographic Analysis of Fertility Developments”, “A Family Policy for Children and Parents”, “Medical and Biological Aspects of Fertility” and summary chapters reviewing myths and legends, main messages, and recommendations. The goal of this CPoS volume is to discuss important fertility trends in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Results of the research undertaken by the subgroup “Demographic Analysis of Fertility Development” are presented. For most of the past century, cohort and period fertility in Austria, Germany and Switzerland were among the lowest in Europe, especially compared to other West European countries. This is true notably since the early 1970s. A number of fertility related issues are explored: women’s parity distribution, childlessness, the correlation of fertility and education and the effect of migration on fertility. Special attention is devoted to the quality and availability of fertility data, the changing age structure of fertility, the number of children women desire, the effects of low fertility on changes in the Comparative Population Studies – Zeitschrift fur Bevolkerungswissenschaft Vol. 36, 2-3 (2011): 251-256 (Date of release: 06.09.2012)