Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2006, Vol. 4

The 2006 issue of the Vienna Yearbook of Population Research focuses on delayed childbearing and its impact on fertility trends. It explores causes, trends and implications of later reproduction, discusses policy options and responses as well as the likely future continuation of the shift to later parenthood. The contributions include studies analysing trends to later childbearing, their drivers and implications (articles by Billari et al., Bernhard and Goldscheider, Testa and Toulemon), novel theoretical perspectives (the “low fertility trap hypothesis” by Lutz et al.), methodological contributions (Bongaarts and Feeney’s article on the tempo and quantum of life cycle events), as well as a modelling study on the limits of fertility postponement (Goldstein’s contribution). The volume also features an empirical assessment of the link between age and ability to conceive (Rizzi and Rosina), and analyses the health consequences of delayed motherhood for children (Matsuo). Two contributions (by van de Kaa and McDonald critically assess pronatalist policies and available policy options.