Reproductive choices and reproductive constraints in Spain during the demographic transition: Familial, social and intergenerational Contexts

David Reher, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Alberto Sanz-Gimeno, Universidad Complutense de Madrid

This paper will look at the socioeconomic,familial and heritable contexts surrounding reproductive choice over the course of the demographic transition in Spain. Women will be classified according to whether they are controlling their marital fertility or not, making use of age at last birth as an indicator of the presence or absence of control. We will also include other aspects of their earlier life experience. The proximate conditions for fertility control are the number of children ever born and their experience with childhood mortality. Beyond this, however, there are factors that influence choice; some are immediate but others may be passed down from one generation of a family to the next. The demographic and socioeconomic outcomes of the offspring of women who practice fertility control as well as those who do not will be evaluated. We are planning to look at both spacing and stopping behavior.