Volume 17 - Article 8 | Pages 181–210  

Education and second birth rates in Denmark 1981-1994

By Mette Gerster, Niels Keiding, Lisbeth B. Knudsen, Katrine Strandberg-Larsen

Abstract

A high educational attainment is shown to have a positive effect on second birth rates for Danish one-child mothers during the period 1981-94. We examine whether a time-squeeze is a possible explanation: due to the longer enrolment in the educational system, highly educated women have less time at their disposal in order to get the desired number of children. Also, we examine to what extent the partner's education can explain some of the positive effect. We find no evidence that the positive effect of education is due to either a time-squeeze nor to a partner effect.

Author's Affiliation

• Mette Gerster - Syddansk Universitet, Denmark EMAIL
• Niels Keiding - Københavns Universitet, Denmark EMAIL
• Lisbeth B. Knudsen - Aalborg University, Denmark EMAIL
• Katrine Strandberg-Larsen - Syddansk Universitet, Denmark EMAIL

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Biological and sociological interpretations of age-adjustment in studies of higher order birth rates
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Modelling regional variation of first-time births in Denmark 1980-1994 by an age-period-cohort model
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TFR for males in Denmark: Calculation and tempo-correction
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