%T The influence of partnership status on  fertility intentions of childless women and men across European countries
%X Background: Absence of a suitable partner is the most frequently given reason for unmet fertility expectations across European countries. Especially when nearing the socially acceptable age limit for childbirth, the presence of a partner could influence fertility intentions more strongly. Studies provide evidence of positive effects of partnership on fertility intentions, but results in terms of a variation in this relation across the life course are mixed. Objective: I am analysing how overall fertility intentions of childless men and women are influenced by partnership status and how this relation varies by age and across countries. Data and methods: The data stems from the first wave of the Generations and Gender survey. The sample consists of childless respondents across 12 European countries between the ages of 18 to 45. I am calculating logistic regressions and aver-age marginal effects as well as the predicted probability of fertility intentions at different ages. Results: Partnership influences the intention to have at least one child positively but the effect varies considerably by age. After an increase of the positive effect up to a certain age threshold, the difference between singles and partnered people turns insignificant. Across countries and males and females, I find high variation in terms of the interaction between partnership and age. Educational level is found to be positively associated with fertility intentions. Conclusion: By in-cluding the predicted probabilities of fertility intentions at different ages, my results reveal a non-linear interaction between partnership and age that cannot adequately be modelled by logistic regressions and AMEs.
%A Nadia Sturm
%L theses_frw3353
%D 2020