Social Policy and Recent Fertility Change in Sweden

Abstract

Swedens total fertility rate (TFR) after a period of decline began rising in the mid-1980s to 2.02 in 1989 which means surpassing the replacement in 1990. This trend is unlike other European or developed countries except for Iceland and Ireland with their higher TFRs. The rise occurs for women 25 years and older since the 1970s and 20-24 year olds recently which reverses the trend in the 1970s with higher fertility in the 20s instead of the 30s. There as also been a cohort shift to 27 years for the median age at 1st birth for those born between 1959-62. Most age groups above the teens now contribute to the general increase. Low-key and pronatalist policies are related to this increase. The Swedish political system has encouraged womens entry into the labor force with minimal cost to childbearing and child rearing. Expansion has contributed to greater daycare child benefits parental leave provisions parents right to part-time work and other measures. Responsible parenthood campaigns must have had an effect on the postponement of parenthood. The change may also reflect greater ease in combining career and parenthood. The spacing between children has been timed to accommodate the paid maternity leave benefits which terminate after 2 years. For example maternity leave can be 5 years for 3 children spaced 1-2 years apart. The consequence is that longterm cost to ones career is willingly sacrificed. Norway and Denmark show similar TFR trends.