lntentions and Fertility Behavior in the State of Societal Instability

Impact of societal instability and crisis on fertility intentions, attitudes and behavior is yet to be analyzed and researched. Its effect on fertility is obvious, however the direction and scope of the impact largely remains unknown. The existing empirical evidence suggests different and often times mutually exclusive interpretations. For instance, the lowest post-war fertility rated was observed in Russia at 1999, the year that followed the huge monetary default. On the other hand, recent increase in fertility has been observed in Iceland, the country that suffered the most during current economic crisis. Increased fertility in some areas of New York after September, 11, 2001 was not accidental, too.
Most of researchers have studied the impact of economic instabilities or natural or man-made catastrophes on political and social instability. In this paper I present the results of the study of mostly social and political instabilities on fertility intentions, attitudes and behavior. I incorporate the advanced version of uncertainty reduction theory and apply it to analysis of fertility dynamics in USSR/Russia at the periods of both stability and various types of social and political instability.