Family Policy and Fertility Intentions in 21 European Countries
Abstract
European countries show substantial variation in family policy and in the extent to which policies support more traditional male‐breadwinner or more gender egalitarian earner–carer family arrangements. Using data from the European Social Survey, the authors implemented multilevel models to analyze variation in fertility intentions of 16,000 men and women according to individual‐level characteristics and family policy across 21 European countries. Both traditional and earner–carer family support generosity were positively related to first‐birth intentions for men and women. In contrast, only earner–carer support maintains its positive relationship with second birth intentions. Family policy is not in general related to third and higher order parity intentions.
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The effect of cash benefits by parity is mixed, being larger on first births in some studies and on higher order births in others.
“The results are also mixed when it comes to the effect of cash benefits by parity: being larger on first births in some studies (e.g., Billingsley and Ferrarini 2014) and on higher order births in others (e.g., Harknett, Billari, and Medalia 2014).”
From Family Policies in Low Fertility Countries: Evidence and Reflections (2025) · cites this paper as Billingsley and Ferrarini 2014
Mixed results on the effect of financial support on fertility are obtained when using broader measures of financial support.
“Mixed results are also obtained when using broader measures of financial support (Billingsley and Ferrarini 2014; Billingsley, Neyer, and Wesolowski 2022).”
From Family Policies in Low Fertility Countries: Evidence and Reflections (2025) · cites this paper as Billingsley and Ferrarini 2014
Expenditures on childcare have a positive impact on the first birth, and earner-carer support has a positive impact on the first and second births but not on the third.
“Kalwij (2010) reported a positive impact of the expenditures on childcare on the first birth, while Billingsley and Ferrarini (2014) reported a positive impact of their earner-carer support index on the first and second births, but not on the third.”
From Family Policies in Low Fertility Countries: Evidence and Reflections (2025) · cites this paper as Billingsley and Ferrarini 2014
Positive results on fertility were found in a study using an index which combined leave-related schemes and childcare for very young children.
“Positive results were also found in a study using an index which combined leave-related schemes and childcare for very young children (Billingsley and Ferrarini 2014).”
From Family Policies in Low Fertility Countries: Evidence and Reflections (2025) · cites this paper as Billingsley and Ferrarini 2014
Cites
The theory of planned behavior
Ajzen, I. (1991) · Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes · doi:10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-t · Cited by 90,587 · see citing works
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Parenthood and happiness: effects of work-family reconciliation policies in 22 OECD countries
Glass, J., Simon, R. W., & Andersson, M. A. (2016) · American Journal of Sociology · doi:10.1086/688892 · Cited by 296 · see citing works
Family Policies in Low Fertility Countries: Evidence and Reflections
Gauthier, A. H., & Gietel‐Basten, S. (2025) · Population and Development Review · doi:10.1111/padr.12691 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Brini, E. (2020) · Genus · doi:10.1186/s41118-020-00074-7 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Brzozowska, Z., & Beaujouan, E. (2021) · European Journal of Population · doi:10.1007/s10680-020-09573-x · Cited by 13 · see citing works
The health of women of reproductive age and their childbearing intentions
(2017) · Zdrowie Publiczne i Zarządzanie · doi:10.4467/20842627oz.17.014.6784 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
- Authors
- Billingsley, S., & Ferrarini, T.
- Affiliations
- Stockholm University (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Billingsley, Sunnee
- ORCID
- Billingsley, Sunnee
- Venue
- Journal of Marriage and Family
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-03-04
- Volume
- 76
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 428-445
- ISSN
- 0022-2445 (ISSN-L)
- 1741-3737
- OpenAlex
- W2103925588
- Cited by
- 128
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 3
- FWCI
- 19.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Marriage and the Family (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Policies and Family
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics
- Keywords
- family policy, fertility intentions, male breadwinner model, gender egalitarianism, cross-national variation, European countries
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