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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.

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Part I: Childlessness in Europe: An Overview: Analyzing Childlessness: Michaela Kreyenfeld & Dirk Konietzka.- Childlessness in Europe: Reconstructing Long-Term Trends among Women Born in 1900-1972: Tomás Sobotka.- Part II: Country Studies: Childlessness in the UK: Ann Berrington.- Childlessness in France: Katja Köppen, Magali Mazuy & Laurent Toulemon.- Childlessness in East and West Germany: Michaela Kreyenfeld & Dirk Konietzka.- Childlessness in Switzerland and Austria: Marion Burkimsher & Krystof Zeman.- Childlessness in Finland: Anna Rotkirch & Anneli Miettinen.- Childlessness in the United States: Tomás Frejka.- Part III:Women´s Education and Childlessness: Education and Childlessness: The Influence of Educational Field and Educational Level on Childlessness among Swedish and Austrian Women: Gerda Neyer, Jan Hoem & Gunnar Andersson.- Childlessness and Fertility Dynamics of Female Higher Education Graduates in Germany: Hildegard Schaeper, Michael Grotheer & Gesche Brandt.- Part IV: Fertility Ideals, Biographical Decisions and Assisted Reproduction: Fertility Ideals of Women and Men across the Life Course in Germany: Anne-Kristin Kuhnt, Michaela Kreyenfeld & Heike Trappe.- Childless at Age 30: A Qualitative Study of the Life Course Plans of Working Women in East and West Germany: Laura Bernardi & Sylvia Keim-Klärner.- Assisted Reproductive Technologies in Germany: A Review of the Current Situation: Heike Trappe.- Assisted Reproductive Technology in Europe: Usage and Regulation in the Context of Cross-Border Reproductive Care: Patrick Präg & Melinda C. Mills.- Part V: Consequences of Childlessness: What´s a (Childless) Man Without a Woman? The Differential Importance of Couple Dynamics for the Wellbeing of Childless Men and Women in the Netherlands: Renske Keizer & Katya Ivanova.- Fertility and Women´s Old-Age Income in Germany: Tatjana Mika & Christin Czaplicki.- Childlessness and Intergenerational Transfers in Later Life across Europe: Marco Albertini & Martin Kohli.

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