ISSN:
2363-7064
Content:
Objective: This paper uses data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) to study the transition to second and third births. In particular, we seek to distinguish the factors that determine the timing of fertility from the factors that influence ultimate parity progression. Methods: We employ cure survival models, a technique commonly used in epidemiological studies and in the statistical literature but only rarely applied to fertility research. Results: We find that education has a different impact on the timing and the ultimate probability of having a second and a third birth. Furthermore, we show that the shape of the fertility schedule for the total population differs from that of ‘susceptible women’ (i.e., those who have a second or a third child). Conclusions: Standard event history models conflate timing and quantum effects. Our approach overcomes this shortcoming. It estimates separate parameters for the hazard rate of having a next child for the ‘susceptible population’ and the ultimate probability of having another child for the entire population at risk.
In:
Demographic research, Rostock : Max Planck Inst. for Demographic Research, 1999, 35(2016), 18, Seite 505-534, 2363-7064
In:
volume:35
In:
year:2016
In:
number:18
In:
pages:505-534
Language:
English
DOI:
10.4054/DemRes.2016.35.18
Author information:
Kreyenfeld, Michaela 1969-
Bookmarklink
