In a situation of low fertility like that operating nowadays, studying the determinants of reproductive behaviour is very important. In a context such as Western industrialized one, in which birth control induces a feature of consciousness into fertility conduct, reproductive intentions have a fundamental role. This paper examines the mechanism which leads to the formation of reproductive behaviour starting from intentions, with reference to a large city in Italy, where fertility is very low, Milan. In addition, the hypothesis that women have innate and unobservable propensities toward family formation is verified through a simultaneous equations model. It allows to control for the potential endogeneity of reproductive intentions in determining subsequent behaviour. Results partially confirm this hypothesis: no significant correlation is found between unobservable components influencing intentions and behaviour. The relevance of reproductive intentions for subsequent fertility behaviour is, however, pointed out.
The importance of intentions in the mechanism of reproductive behaviour formation
MEGGIOLARO, SILVIA
2010
Abstract
In a situation of low fertility like that operating nowadays, studying the determinants of reproductive behaviour is very important. In a context such as Western industrialized one, in which birth control induces a feature of consciousness into fertility conduct, reproductive intentions have a fundamental role. This paper examines the mechanism which leads to the formation of reproductive behaviour starting from intentions, with reference to a large city in Italy, where fertility is very low, Milan. In addition, the hypothesis that women have innate and unobservable propensities toward family formation is verified through a simultaneous equations model. It allows to control for the potential endogeneity of reproductive intentions in determining subsequent behaviour. Results partially confirm this hypothesis: no significant correlation is found between unobservable components influencing intentions and behaviour. The relevance of reproductive intentions for subsequent fertility behaviour is, however, pointed out.Pubblicazioni consigliate
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