Determinants of Fertility and Regional Differentiation of Fertility in the Czech Republic after 1991
Abstract
Dissertation mainly focuses on the factors that affect the level of fertility in the Czech Republic during the extensive changes in reproductive behavior since the 90s of the 20th century to the present. Pivotal analytical parts are conducted on two levels.
On an individual level, the work uses data from the 2011 Population and Housing Census and models the number of children ever-born to a woman and the number of dependent children within the private household in relation to the determinants of fertility. Determinants of fertility of a partner are also included.
The Total Fertility Rate at the aggregate district level is used as the dependent variable, which is determined by the factors of regional differentiation of the transversal fertility. The issue of determinants of fertility is complemented by general analysis of trends of transversal and cohort fertility rates, differential cohort fertility by various characteristics and the regional aspect.
Methodological issues of population censuses, different indicators of fertility and approach to analysis at different scales are also widely discussed. Level of cohort fertility of women beyond the reproductive age was for the first time in the history below the two children per woman threshold according to the data from 2011 Population Census.
The results of logistic regression confirmed the significant influence of the marital status and the educational attainment on the number of children ever born. In the case of the person's labor market characteristics, the results are inconclusive.
The influence of determinants of woman's partner are proved to be a less significant. During the last quarter of a century, the regional image of district's Total Fertility Rates were fundamentally changed.
The aggregated level of analysis at the district level assessed as very important the socio-cultural factors, which in some areas of the Czech Republic significantly reduces fertility intensity.