A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

The Role of Gender Differences in Partnering and Re-partnering for Gender Differences in Completed Fertility




AuthorsAndersson Linus

PublisherSPRINGER

Publication year2023

JournalPopulation Research and Policy Review

Journal acronymPOPUL RES POLICY REV

Article number 17

Volume42

Issue2

Number of pages28

ISSN0167-5923

eISSN1573-7829

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s11113-023-09767-1

Web address https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11113-023-09767-1

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/179188008


Abstract
Individuals increasingly enter a series of relationships during their reproductive years. As births in higher-order unions increase, fertility becomes partially contingent on re-partnering. Previous research suggests that men re-partner at higher rates than women. This study analyzes whether gender differences in partnering and re-partnering influence gender differences in cohort fertility. We use Finnish register data on all births, marriages, and cohabitations between the ages of 18 and 47 over four full birth cohorts. The gender differences in cohort fertility rate are decomposed into components due to birth rate differences and a compositional component owing to gender differences in the share partnered and re-partnered. We observe no impact of "re-partnering premium" on male fertility. Men have marginally higher re-partnering rates at older ages, when birth rates are low, whereas women have higher rates of partnering and re-partnering at prime childbearing ages. This compositional effect drives a "partnering" advantage for female fertility. This connection between gender differences in partnering and cohort fertility is true across educational levels.

Downloadable publication

This is an electronic reprint of the original article.
This reprint may differ from the original in pagination and typographic detail. Please cite the original version.





Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 18:32