Dynamics of fertility and family formation - past, present and future

Research co-ordinated by Dr Ann Berrington (University of Southampton) and Dr Elspeth Graham (University of St Andrews)

Following the 1960s baby boom and 1970s bust, fertility in the UK has been below replacement rate for the last 30 years or more (Replacement level fertility is the level of fertility at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next. In the UK replacement level fertility is approximately 2.1 children per woman). Such low aggregate fertility combined with demographic ageing (an increase in the proportion of older people in a population) has implications on, for example, economic growth, labour markets, pension and health care provision.

Work in this theme focuses on improving our understanding of the mechanisms and causes of recent fertility trends and informing policy by providing an improved information base for national population projections.

Work is being undertaken in the following areas:

• Measuring fertility
• Fertility postponement and recuperation
• Differentials in Fertility
• The economics of fertility choice

Related activities:

Nonmarital Childbearing Project  - This project is funded by the European Research Council and is co-ordinated by Dr. Brienna Perelli-Harris (University of Southampton). The research investigates family change in Europe, Australia and the United States.