Demographic Change: How Government Support Influences Birth Rates

Abstract

The paper reviews recent demographic changes in Europe and puts particular focus on declining birth rates. It is argued that recent demographic patterns are largely driven by changing attitudes and a reorientation of values, but that lack of government support is an important reason why actual demographic behaviour varies across countries. Interestingly, new and modern forms of demographic behaviour, such as cohabitation, out-of-wedlock childbearing and divorce are also associated with higher birth rates, and it is argued that government support and the way welfare provision is organised play a crucial role.