Abstract
AbstractPrevious research has shown that parental as well as own socio-economic status (SES) influence nonmarital fertility. This chapter examines to what extent the effect of parental SES on partner status at first birth is mediated through own SES. Data from the Generations and Gender Survey, British Understanding Society Survey, Dutch Survey on Family Formation, American National Survey on Family Growth, and Canadian General Social Survey are used to examine 16 national contexts. In the majority of countries, the effect of parental SES on the likelihood of having a first birth in cohabitation and in marriage is partly explained by the intergenerational transmission of SES. A direct effect of parental SES is found in Canada, USA, Norway, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, and Romania. The effect of parental SES on the likelihood of having a first birth while being single and in marriage is partly explained by the intergenerational transmission of SES. In the USA, Austria, and Norway, a direct effect of parental SES was also found. The results suggest that in addition to the intergenerational transmission of SES, differences in family aid may influence the transition to adulthood. It is also possible that parental SES influences the motivation and ability to prevent pregnancies.
Highlights
Since the 1960s, Western societies are marked by a postponement of marriage and childbearing, along with an increase in unmarried cohabitation and divorce
Results of this study showed that substantial country differences exist in the effect of parental socio-economic status (SES) on nonmarital fertility
This may have masked the fact that in some countries the effect of socio-economic status of the childhood family is fully mediated through own SES, while in other countries a direct effect of parental SES is found in addition
Summary
Since the 1960s, Western societies are marked by a postponement of marriage and childbearing, along with an increase in unmarried cohabitation and divorce. A few single-country studies have examined the influence of socio-economic status of the childhood family on nonmarital fertility outside of the USA. The study shows that in North-American countries and in half of West- and East-European countries, those growing up with lower-SES parents have a higher risk of experiencing a birth while being single as compared to those with higher-SES parents. A more indirect pathway is assumed through the intergenerational transmission of a person’s own socio-economic status Those growing up with higher-SES parents may have a higher SES themselves and this may influence their preferences and availability of resources, and, their family formation behavior.
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