Fertility rates have declined in all OECD countries throughout the last decades. Despite this common secular trend, there is substantial heterogeneity both in the current level of birth rates and in the past development. Germany, Spain, and Italy display lower fertility rates than France, the United Kongdom, and the Scandinavian countries. All countries use some redistributional measures directed towards families, with some variation in the structure of packages and the leveel of benefits. Although these measures are mainly motivated by equity considerations, they will generally also have an impact on fertility.
Department conducting the study: Social Policy and Labour Markets.
Auswirkungen familienpolitischer Instrumente auf die Fertilität: Internationaler Vergleich für ausgewählte Länder by Volker Meier ifo Forschungsberichte Munich: Ifo Institute for Economic Research, 2005; 44 p.; 18,- EUR. ISBN 3-88512-446-7
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