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  • Open Access
  • © 2017

Childlessness in Europe: Contexts, Causes, and Consequences

  • This open access book provides an overview of the recent trend of childlessness throughout Europe
  • Offers a collection of papers written by leading demographers and sociologists
  • Examines patterns, causes and contexts in countries throughout the region

Part of the book series: Demographic Research Monographs (DEMOGRAPHIC)

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Table of contents (17 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xi
  2. Childlessness in Europe: An Overview

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. Analyzing Childlessness

      • Michaela Kreyenfeld, Dirk Konietzka
      Pages 3-15Open Access
  3. Country Studies

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 55-55
    2. Childlessness in the UK

      • Ann Berrington
      Pages 57-76Open Access
    3. Childlessness in France

      • Katja Köppen, Magali Mazuy, Laurent Toulemon
      Pages 77-95Open Access
    4. Childlessness in East and West Germany: Long-Term Trends and Social Disparities

      • Michaela Kreyenfeld, Dirk Konietzka
      Pages 97-114Open Access
    5. Childlessness in Switzerland and Austria

      • Marion Burkimsher, Kryštof Zeman
      Pages 115-137Open Access
    6. Childlessness in Finland

      • Anna Rotkirch, Anneli Miettinen
      Pages 139-158Open Access
    7. Childlessness in the United States

      • Tomas Frejka
      Pages 159-179Open Access
  4. Women’s Education and Childlessness

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 181-181
    2. Childlessness and Fertility Dynamics of Female Higher Education Graduates in Germany

      • Hildegard Schaeper, Michael Grotheer, Gesche Brandt
      Pages 209-232Open Access
  5. Fertility Ideals, Biographical Decisions and Assisted Reproduction

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 233-233
    2. Fertility Ideals of Women and Men Across the Life Course

      • Anne-Kristin Kuhnt, Michaela Kreyenfeld, Heike Trappe
      Pages 235-251Open Access
  6. Consequences of Childlessness

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 311-311

About this book

This book is published open access under a CC BY 4.0 license.



This open access book provides an overview of childlessness throughout Europe. It offers a collection of papers written by leading demographers and sociologists that examine contexts, causes, and consequences of childlessness in countries throughout the region.The book features data from all over Europe. It specifically highlights patterns of childlessness in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, Austria and Switzerland. An additional chapter on childlessness in the United States puts the European experience in perspective. 
The book offers readers such insights as the determinants of lifelong childlessness, whether governments can and should counteract increasing childlessness, how the phenomenon differs across social strata and the role economic uncertainties play. In addition, the book also examines life course dynamics and biographical patterns, assisted reproduction as well as the consequences of childlessness. Childlessness has been increasing rapidly in most European countries in recent decades. 
This book offers readers expert analysis into this issue from leading experts in the field of family behavior. From causes to consequences, it explores the many facets of childlessness throughout Europe to present a comprehensive portrait of this important demographic and sociological trend.  


Editors and Affiliations

  • Hertie School of Governance GmbH , Berlin, Germany

    Michaela Kreyenfeld

  • Institut für Sozialwissenschaften, TU Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany

    Dirk Konietzka

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Childlessness in Europe: Contexts, Causes, and Consequences

  • Editors: Michaela Kreyenfeld, Dirk Konietzka

  • Series Title: Demographic Research Monographs

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44667-7

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Social Sciences, Social Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2017

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-44665-3Published: 18 January 2017

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-83108-4Published: 17 July 2018

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-44667-7Published: 11 January 2017

  • Series ISSN: 1613-5520

  • Series E-ISSN: 2197-9286

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XI, 370

  • Number of Illustrations: 86 b/w illustrations, 3 illustrations in colour

  • Additional Information: Partly translated of Ein Leben ohne Kinder, Springer, 2013.

  • Topics: Demography, Population Economics, Sociology, general

Buy it now

Buying options

Softcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access