European Population Forum, Geneva January 2004 Childbearing and parenting in low fertility countries: enabling choices Anne H. Gauthier (Canada) With contributions from K. Kiernan and J. Hobcraft

European Population Forum, Geneva January 2004 Overview 1. What have been the demographic trends? 2. What have been the policy responses? 3. What are the issues related to partnership, childbearing, and parenting?

European Population Forum, Geneva January What have been the demographic trends? Diversification of the life course of individuals  Timing of key transitions to adulthood (postponement)  Instability of unions  Parenting context  Achievement of extremely low levels of fertility  Reversal of the correlation between demographic events (e.g. fertility and female labor force participation)

European Population Forum, Geneva January Diversification and postponement: what do they mean? Imperfect theories Country-specific explanations? Gender equality? Incomplete understanding of ways macro-level structures (e.g. welfare state) influence the choices and life course of individuals Data! (FFS & GGP)

European Population Forum, Geneva January Diversification and postponement: what do they mean? Greater choices (timing and sequence of events, context of parenting) Difficult choices: how to reach family goals and maximize human capital (is there a right timing?) Inequalities in societies in terms of choices (e.g. adolescent mothers, young adults with precarious employment) Financial protection of children in case of union dissolution

European Population Forum, Geneva January What have been the policy responses? Financial and legal support to families Support to employed parents Gender equality Child and family-friendly societies

European Population Forum, Geneva January 2004 Financial and legal support to families Recent trends: General increase in financial support of low- income families and single- parents Greater reliance on means- tested benefits Elimination of tax disincentives to dual-earner families Acknowledgement of different living arrangements BUT… still high levels of child and family poverty BUT… not universal recognition and support of alternative living arrangements

European Population Forum, Geneva January 2004 Support to employed parents (family- work) Recent trends: Extension of maternity, parental, and childcare leave Provision of childcare facilities or subsidies Promotion of gender equality BUT… childcare shortages BUT… unequal participation of men and women in take-up of parental leave BUT… wage penalty associated with withdrawals from the labor market for child- rearing

European Population Forum, Geneva January 2004 Child and family-friendly societies Some steps… BUT Incoherence in total package of policies Unintended consequences (e.g. parental and childcare leave & gender equality) Limited state-family sharing of total cost of children Poverty and social exclusion Not all social actors and institutions are involved

European Population Forum, Geneva January What are the issues? Financial Age Earnings S3-Work interruption with child penalty S1- No work interruption Childbirth and work interruption for childcare S2- Work interruption with no child penalty

European Population Forum, Geneva January 2004 What are the issues? Language Pronatalist policies Family-enabling policies  Choices  Mutually supportive and equitable partnerships  Work-life balance  Promotion of gender equality  Reduction of poverty and social exclusion  Protection of sexual and reproductive health

European Population Forum, Geneva January 2004 Further issues Choices  Enabling reproductive choices  Access to information and services (birth control, protection against STDs & HIV/AIDS, safe motherhood)  Protecting adolescents  Infertility & delayed childbearing  Promoting employment and financial security (young adults)

European Population Forum, Geneva January 2004 Further issues Gender equality, involving fathers Domestic violence Opportunities for lifelong learning and re- training Investment into children  Early years  Early childhood education  Skills to enable them to be successful in new economy

European Population Forum, Geneva January 2004 Conclusion: what really matters? Enabling opportunities and choices Recognizing diversity Achieving gender equality Investing in children Ensuring a secure environment for children and parents