Family formation and social mobility Life courses in Amsterdam
Sources Census: general figures Historische steekproef Nederland/Historical Sample of Netherlands –Birth certificates: –Population register: family composition and characteristics –Marriage certificates –Death certificates More: dossiers of the social security, tax registers
Life courses Choices in life Transitions: movements, marriage, leaving home, choice of profession Transitions have a timing Relate transitions to family characteristics and position of individual in family.
Research questions What explains changes in life courses and social mobility? Focus on family circumstances and individual transitions Possible relations: –Does family size influence chances of social mobility? –Does age of marriage influence chances social mobility? –Decline in death rate in family? birth control
Demographic transition Background –Declining death rates –Conscious birth control –Lowering of age of marriage –Increase in number of people married
Causes and consequences Better life conditions (hygiene, water supply, medicine|) Higher wages New economic opportunities Women withdraw from labour market, spent more time on the family Children as investment goods: education makes sense
GIS Changes of address: spatial mobility in time New families: spread or concentration? Characterize quarters in the town: social categories, population, births, deaths, migrants New quarters vs old quarters Location of work and family
Population Amsterdam JaarAantalToename (1830=100) , , , , , , , , , , , ,85
Vital statistics
Marriage Fertility JarenAantal kinderen op 1000 gehuwde vrouwen (15-49j.) 1849— — — — — — en