Projects
Fertility in the context of economic recession and international migration: a comparative study of Italy, Spain and the UK
Project contributors: Graham E, Feng Z, Jamieson L, MacInnes J, Fiori F, Sabater A, Lebano A,
This Project is part of the following research programme/s:
Overview
This mixed-methods study investigates recent changes in fertility in three European countries, each with different histories of international migration and with economies that have been variously affected by the economic crisis of 2007/8. It builds on work on England and Wales by extending it to include Scotland and two countries in Europe. We expect both the composition of the population and context to influence fertility change because the economic downturn is likely to have impacted differentially on the study countries and the different population groups in them i.e. people are likely to be affected differently according to their age, level of education, gender, employment status (Sobotka et al. 2011), as well as country of birth/ nationality. The analyses use spatially disaggregated data drawn from national censuses, birth registrations and sample surveys, along with qualitative interview data collected by the team in each of the countries.
Three key research questions:
1. At the macro-level, how do within-country geographical variations in fertility, and by population group, differ before and after the economic downturn?
2. Is there individual-level evidence of partnership/fertility postponement, and/or changes in family size, including childlessness?
3. How do young adults perceive and experience 'recession' as modifying their futures, and particularly living arrangements, partnering, parenting and family life?
Publications & Activities
Changing Reasons for Not Wanting a Second Child Among Mothers in Italy before and after the Global Economic Crisis
European Population Conference 2018 (2018). (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
Authors: Fiori F, Graham E, Rinesi F,
Childbearing in Italy and Spain: Postponement Narratives
Population and Development Review (2020). 46 (1) 121-144
Authors: Lebano A, Jamieson L,
Does Living Close to Kin Affect the Occurrence of Second Births in Low-Fertility Contexts? The Case of Andalusia in Spain.
Iberian Association of Historical Demography Conference (2019). (Porto, Portugal)
Authors: Sabater A, Viciana-Fernández F, Graham E, Ramiro-Farinas D,
Does Living Close to Kin Encourage Second Births? Evidence from Southern Europe
European Population Conference 2018 (2018). (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
Authors: Sabater A, Graham E, Viciana F, Ramiro-Farinas D,
Does having highly educated adult children reduce mortality risks for parents with low educational attainment in Europe?
Cambridge University Press, Ageing & Society (2019). 40 (12) 2635-2670
Authors: Sabater A, Graham E, Marshall A,
Economic reasons for not wanting a second child: Changes before and after the onset of the economic recession in Italy
Demographic Research (2018). 38 (30) 843-854
Authors: Fiori F, Graham E, Rinesi F,
Educational Differentials in the realization of the Intention to Have a Second Child in Italy
European Population Conference 2018 (2018). (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
Authors: Graham E, Fiori F, Rinesi F,
Emigration and fertility decline in Spain since the economic recession: A population-level analysis
Population-level fertility research: State of the art. The 2nd Human Fertility Database Symposium (2016). (WissenschaftsForum, Berlin)
Authors: Sabater A, Graham E,
Fertility Change in the Context of Economic Recession in Italy and Spain
CPC (2016). Series Number: 36.
Authors: Graham E, Sabater A, Fiori F,
Fertility Change in the Context of Economic Recession in Italy and Spain: Population Composition and Sub-National Geographies
EPC 2016 (2016). (Mainz, Germany)
Authors: Graham E, Sabater A, Fiori F,
Low educational attainment and UK fertility change in times of austerity
2016 BSPS Conference (2016). (University of Winchester)
Authors: Graham E, Sabater A,
Parental support and the transition to second birth in a low-fertility setting: the case of Andalusia in Spain
PAA 2017 (2017). (Hilton Chicago)
Authors: Sabater A, Graham E, Viciana F, Ramiro-Farinas D,
Residential mobility after the dissolution of a marital union in Italy
International Research and Policy Symposium on Family Changes and Housing Transitions in the Life Course (2017). (University of St Andrews)
Authors: Fiori F,
Where have all the young people gone? Generations, family and work in Italy
CRFR informal seminar series (2016). (Edinburgh)
Authors: Lebano A,
Why the ‘Fertility Campaign’ failed: fertility choices in Italy after the crisis
2017 APSA Annual Meeting (2017). (San Francisco)
Authors: Lebano A,
