Abstract
The level of education and other adult socioeconomic characteristics of men are known to associate with their fertility, but early-life socioeconomic characteristics may also be related. We studied how men’s adult and early-life socioeconomic characteristics are associated with their eventual fertility and whether the differences therein by educational level are explained or mediated by other socioeconomic characteristics. The data on men born in 1940–1950 (N = 37,082) were derived from the 1950 Finnish census, which is linked to later registers. Standard and sibling fixed-effects Poisson and logistic regression models were used. Education and other characteristics were positively associated with the number of children, largely stemming from a higher likelihood of a first birth among the more socioeconomically advantaged men. The educational gradient in the number of children was not explained by early socioeconomic or other characteristics shared by brothers, but occupational position and income in adulthood mediated approximately half of the association. Parity-specific differences existed: education and many other socioeconomic characteristics predicted the likelihood of a first birth more strongly than that of a second birth, and the mediating role of occupational position and income was also strongest for first births. Relatively small differences were found in the likelihood of a third birth. In men, education is positively associated with eventual fertility after controlling for early socioeconomic and other characteristics shared by brothers. Selective entry into fatherhood based on economic provider potential may contribute considerably to educational differentials in the number of children among men.
Highlights
Education may influence childbearing among men in various ways over the life course (Berrington and Pattaro 2014; Thomson et al 2013)
We found that neither observed nor unobserved characteristics shared by brothers explained the association between education and fertility in men, but brothers may still differ in relevant ways not captured here (Holmlund 2005; Kohler et al 2011) that contribute to educational level and labour market success on the one hand and the chances of marrying and childbearing on the other
The findings further suggested that early-life socioeconomic or other characteristics shared by brothers do not explain the association of education with fertility in men
Summary
Education may influence childbearing among men in various ways over the life course (Berrington and Pattaro 2014; Thomson et al 2013). Economic potential may contribute to higher fertility among men through better chances in the marriage market (Becker 1993; Oppenheimer 1988; Oppenheimer et al 1997). Socioeconomic characteristics in early life have been previously linked with men’s fertility (Easterlin 1966; Thornton 1980). This study aims to extend the previous literature by carefully analysing to what extent educational differences in men’s fertility are explained by socioeconomic or other characteristics in early life, or mediated by such characteristics in adulthood. We describe the relationships of socioeconomic characteristics in early life and adulthood with fertility
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