ABSTRACT
Since the late 1960s, birth rates have been falling across Europe and in most economically advanced countries. The timing, intensity and persistence of the fertility decline vary across countries. In some the decline is ongoing, however, in a growing number total fertility rates have started to increase. The mechanisms behind this reversal are being debated. Is it purely the consequence of childbearing postponement across generations, or does it reveal more structural changes in the relationships between economic development, women’s participation in the labour market, social norms and fertility behaviour?
