Fertility differences by housing type: The effect of housing conditions or of selective moves?

This study examines fertility variation across housing types and childbearing patterns following housing changes. While the effect of family changes on housing choices has been studied in detail, little is known about childbearing patterns within various housing types, and this despite the fact that many studies suggest housing to be an important determinant of fertility. We use longitudinal register data from Finland and apply hazard regression. First, we observe a significant variation in fertility levels across housing types – fertility is highest among couples living in single-family houses and lowest among those residing in apartments, with the variation remaining significant even after controlling for the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of women. Second, our results show elevated fertility levels after couples have changed dwellings, suggesting that much of the fertility variation across housing types is attributed to selective moves. Third, the study reveals a relatively high risk of third birth for couples in single-family houses several years after the move. This suggests that living in spacious housing and in a family-friendly environment for a relatively long time leads to higher fertility. 1 Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Konrad-Zuse-Straße 1, 18057 Rostock, Germany. E-mail: [email protected] 2 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Geneva, Switzerland. E-mail: [email protected] Kulu & Vikat: Fertility differences by housing type 776 http://www.demographic-research.org