Nonmarital and Teen Fertility

28 Pages Posted: 19 Jun 2017 Last revised: 26 Apr 2023

See all articles by Jason M. Fletcher

Jason M. Fletcher

University of Wisconsin - Madison - Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs; Yale University - School of Public Health

Jessica Polos

University of Wisconsin - Madison

Abstract

This chapter explores trends, causes and consequences of nonmarital and teen fertility in the United States and in selected European countries. First, we describe some key factors, including changes in economic institutions and family planning technologies, that likely contribute to the large changes in patterns of marriage and fertility observed in developed countries in recent decades. Secondly, we observe that substantial empirical hurdles to credibly estimating the impacts of nonmarital and teen fertility on adults' and children's outcomes remain, though recent evidence suggests more modest impacts than early evidence. Finally, we explore new directions in this research area, arguing that the conventional comparison between nonmarital and marital births should be revised to more adequately incorporate the rapidly growing number of births to cohabiting partners. Additional directions include continuing analysis of the dynamic impacts of the Great Recession and an integration of biological considerations into the economic analysis of fertility.

Keywords: nonmarital fertility, teen fertility, family economics, contraception, cohabitation, Great Recession, genetics

JEL Classification: J12, J13

Suggested Citation

Fletcher, Jason M. and Polos, Jessica, Nonmarital and Teen Fertility. IZA Discussion Paper No. 10833, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2988180 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2988180

Jason M. Fletcher (Contact Author)

University of Wisconsin - Madison - Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs ( email )

1180 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706-1393
United States

Yale University - School of Public Health ( email )

PO Box 208034
60 College Street
New Haven, CT 06520-8034
United States

Jessica Polos

University of Wisconsin - Madison ( email )

716 Langdon Street
Madison, WI 53706-1481
United States

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