Things to Gain, Things to Lose: Perceived Costs and Benefits of Children and Intention to Remain Childless in Poland

A rapid fertility decline observed in Poland since the 1990s has been accompanied by a marked increase childlessness. This may seem surprising given high value placed on parenthood country. Some evidence exists how childlessness relates to biological and situational constraints, but still relatively little is known about decision never have children made, especially among men. article contributes this literature analysing perceived positive negative consequences of affect reproductive intentions childless women men different socioeconomic characteristics Poland. Using subsample respondents extracted from second wave Polish Generation Gender Survey, we examine interplay between (a) intention remain childless, (b) costs benefits having children, included as unique set questions Survey (GGS), (c) respondents’ (education, employment, household financial situation, size place residence). The results suggest that both strongly likelihood intending whereas only matter. While effects do not depend any characteristics, probability child does vary some them. Our indicate pattern polarisation already seen low‐fertility countries: for disadvantaged segment population, it increasingly difficult become parents.