ABSTRACT
Throughout the twentieth century economic recessions have raised interest in the effect of economic conditions on fertility. The Great Depression of the 1930s, the oil shocks of the 1970s and the economic recessions in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) following the turn to market economies have all entailed research on economic determinants of childbearing. The recent economic recession starting in 2008 adds to the long-standing interest in the interaction between economic conditions and fertility trends (Sobotka, Skirbekk and Philipov 2011). Sobotka (2011) states that many studies refer to economic recessions when interpreting fertility decline, but few incorporate economic indicators in their analysis.
