Childlessness in France

Even though the average age at first childbirth has been increasing and education and employment options for women have improved immensely in recent decades, in France, unlike in other European countries, these developments have not led to a major increase in childlessness. Birth rates remain high and the share of the population who are childless is among the lowest in western Europe. This article discusses the historical roots as well as the societal conditions, institutional regulations, and political decisions that may explain the low levels of childlessness in France. We also discuss differences in rates of childlessness by education and occupation. Using a large representative survey on family life that was conducted parallel to the French census in 2011, we study the fertility histories of men and women born between the 1920s and late 1970s. We find that while the differences in fertility by level of education seem to have declined, having a higher education is still an obstacle to parenthood for women. For men, having a low educational and occupational status is associated with a greater likelihood of being childless. A large part of the differences in rates of childlessness between social groups can be traced back to the men and women who have never lived in a couple relationship; thus, partnership status can be regarded as a decisive parameter of the extent of childlessness

Rationales, design and recruitment for the Elfe longitudinal study

Background Many factors act simultaneously in childhood to influence health status, life chances and well being, including pre-birth influences, the environmental pollutants of early life, health status but also the social influences of family and school. A cohort study is needed to disentangle these influences and explore attribution. Methods Elfe will be a nationally representative cohort of 20 000 children followed from birth to adulthood using a multidisciplinary approach. The cohort will be based on the INSEE Permanent Demographic Panel (EDP) established using census data and civil records. The sample size has been defined in order to match the representativeness criteria and to obtain some prevalence estimation, but also to address the research area of low exposure/rare effects. The cohort will be based on repeated surveys by face to face or phone interview (at birth and each year) as well as medical interview (at 2 years) and examination (at 6 years). Furthermore, biological samples will be taken at birth to evaluate the foetal exposition to toxic substances, environmental sensors will be placed in the child's homes. Pilot studies have been initiated in 2007 (500 children) with an overall acceptance rate of 55% and are currently under progress, the 2-year survey being carried out in October this year. Discussion The longitudinal study will provide a unique source of data to analyse the development of children in their environment, to study the various factors interacting throughout the life course up to adulthood and to determine the impact of childhood experience on the individual's physical, psychological, social and professional development

Kinderlosigkeit in Frankreich

In der aktuellen Diskussion um sinkende Geburtenraten, hohe Kinderlosigkeit und reformbedürftige familienpolitische Rahmenbedingungen in Deutschland wird oftmals das Beispiel Frankreich herangezogen. Frankreich gilt als familienpolitisches Musterland, in dem nicht nur die Frauenerwerbsquote hoch ist, sondern gleichzeitig auch eine deutlich höhere Geburtenrate als in anderen europäischen Staaten beobachtet werden kann. Frankreich hatte 2003 nach Island und Irland mit durchschnittlich 1,9 Kindern pro Frau die dritthöchste Geburtenziffer in Westeuropa (Europarat 2004). Während in Deutschland rund ein Viertel der Frauen kinderlos bleiben, sind es in Frankreich lediglich elf Prozent. Der folgende Beitrag soll eine Antwort auf die Frage geben, warum französische Frauen und Männer selten kinderlos bleiben und wie sich Kinderlosigkeit in Frankreich historisch und sozialstrukturell darstellt. Angefangen mit einem Überblick über die gesellschaftlichen Rahmenbedingungen und die allgemeine Geburtenentwicklung liegt der Schwerpunkt dieses Artikels auf der Darstellung der wichtigsten demographischen Parameter der Kinderlosigkeit in Frankreich und deren Unterschieden zwischen den verschiedenen sozialen Gruppen