Varying association between education and second births in Europe: comparative analysis based on the EU-SILC data

This study examines the association between educational attainment and transition to second birth in Europe in comparative perspective. Previous research suggests that in several countries women’s educational attainment is positively related to second birth intensity, whereas other countries show non-positive or negative relationship. It is also known that analysis of this relationship is complicated due to confounding factors. We investigate the problem using data from the EU Statistics of Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), specifically the 2005 and 2011 surveys that cover 29 countries. Unlike most previous studies, our research focuses mainly on larger geographical units. We estimate separate discrete-time event history models for major regions and sub-regions of Europe; this analytical approach is complemented by multi-level modelling that provides additional insight to both overall pattern and country-specific deviations. With regard to women’s as well as partner’s educational attainment, several types of relationship to second births are distinguished. We find considerable diversity in both the direction and strength of the education gradient across regions in contemporary Europe.