Fertility Differentials Between Immigrants and Natives in Europe. Evidence from EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions.

Details

Supervisors

Vandenberghe, Vincent

Faculty

Faculté des sciences économiques, sociales, politiques et de communication

Degree label

Master [120] en sciences économiques, orientation économétrie, à finalité approfondie

Abstract

This thesis studies the fertility patterns of native women and those with an immigrant background in the context of the EU countries. I consider both intra-EU migration (flows between EU Member States) and extra-EU migration (flows from non-member countries to the EU) settings. Using the household level data from European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions for the period of 2010-2020 I investigate the process of fertility convergence between immigrants and natives. I examine the impact of socio-economic and individual characteristics such as educational attainment and employment status on the fertility discrepancies between immigrants and locals in the EU. I also assess the impact of main assimilation characteristics, particularly the length of stay and age at immigration on immigrant fertility behavior. In this study, I uncover a significant disparity in fertility rates between non-EU immigrants and native populations in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden. I demonstrate that non-EU immigrants have higher fertility rates. Moreover, this research contributes to the existing knowledge by highlighting a negative impact of employment on immigrant fertility. Additionally, the findings highlight the role of socialization mechanisms among immigrants, suggesting the preservation of norms and beliefs from their home countries rather than convergence with the native population in the EU. Additionally, age at migration plays a role, with younger immigrants showing closer fertility rates to the native population.