Fertility Rates and Mothers’ Employment Behaviour in Comparative Perspective: Similarities and Differences in Six European Countries

Abstract

Throughout Europe since 1965, no country has been able to resist the twin phenomena of a declining birthrate and a corresponding increase in women’s participation in the labour force. Yet, while the overall trend is similar, there are significant differences between countries, whether it be in the levels of women’s participation in the workforce or the extent to which fertility levels have declined. By making a cross-national analysis of six countries (Norway, Sweden, UK, Netherlands, France and Portugal), the complex array of factors explaining these differences will be investigated. Our aim will be to demonstrate that the various interactions between the levels of support provided by public policies to working parents, the employment patterns of women, and the cultural norms that govern childcare policy have to be considered together if we are to adequately explain the differences in birth rates across various countries.

This chapter is based partly on information and data drawn from the report ‘Context Mapping’, which evolved from European Commission funded research projects which took place through the European network ‘Transitions’⁷ (2003–2005). The objective of this network was to produce a comparative analysis of the possible trajectories for persons aged between 25–39 in their professional and family life through a thorough analysis of public policy with a particular focus on the family policies of the EU member states (including Bulgaria and Slovenia).