ABSTRACT
At the centre of the academic debate concerning fertility decline in Western welfare states is the question whether family policies sustain or increase fertility levels. Statistical evidence of the association between family policies and fertility is mixed, and while policies have positive effects, their reach is limited (Gauthier 2007; Hoem 2008). It has been suggested, however, that their impact may be underestimated as a result of theoretical and methodological difficulties (Thévenon and Gauthier 2011). Based on a qualitative and interpretative approach, this chapter explores young adults’ perceptions of economic preconditions and labour market risks related to becoming a parent, and the significance assigned to family policies in their considerations. In order to better understand and conceptualise the relationship between welfare policies and fertility, approaches studying whether and how policy arrangements enter individual transitions to parenthood are a valuable complement to statistical analyses.
