Influences of origin and destination on migrant fertility in Europe

Abstract

Abstract The current study examines the quantum of childbearing of migrants from low‐fertility contexts (Poland and Romania) at multiple destinations (Italy and the United Kingdom), and compares them to stayers at origin and to nonmigrants at destination, combining the multiorigin/multidestination approach with the ‘context‐of‐origin’ perspective. Using data from the Labour Force Surveys (2009–2015) and adopting a gender and a couple perspective, we show that Polish and Romanian women have fewer children than nonmigrants at destinations. Romanian migrant women and men have a fertility similar to that of stayers at the origin, especially in United Kingdom, suggesting a socialization pattern for this group. Our findings also suggest the presence of the disruption mechanism for migrants, mainly in the short term, combined with a ‘catch‐up’ in the long run explained by family reunification, primarily in Italy. However, the ‘catch‐up’ over time of residence is found to be slower compared to previous studies. Finally, we find selection into migration and into different destination play an important role.

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