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Changing family patterns in Europe: A case of divergence?

La transformation des structures familiales en Europe: Un cas de divergence?

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Abstract

Over the past decades, European countries have witnessed rather uniform trends in basic demographic indicators of fertility and of family formation and dissolution. These trends have been summarized under the label of the second demographic transition, and bear an implication of between-nation convergence. Quite contrary to the ideas of the general public and the expectations of some experts, whatever the degree of convergence that is really there, the effect has not been a trend towards convergence of household and, especially, family patterns. Pluralization of household and family patterns can indeed be observed everywhere, but in each case this pluralization has another face, as it is influenced by cultural and policy differences. This will be demonstrated with the help of a presentation of preliminary results of an international comparative research project in ten European countries that was recently carried out.

Résumé

Durant les décennies antérieures les pays européens ont connu des évolutions assez uniformes des indicateurs démographiques de fécondité ainsi que ceux de formation et dissolution des familles. Ces évolutions ont été résumées sous l'appellation de seconde transition démographique, et conduisent à une convergence des comportements nationaux. Contrairement aux idées répandues dans le public et aux attentes de certains experts, quel que soit le degré de convergence qui est réellement présent, l'effet n'a pas conduit à une identification des comportements des ménages et, plus particulièrement, des familles. La multiplication des comportements des ménages et des familles peut en effet être observée partout, mais dans chaque cas cette multiplication a une forme différente, car elle est influencée par des différences culturelles et politiques. Cela est montré ici à l'aide des résultats préliminaires d'un projet de recherche comparatif international dans dix pays européens, qui a été mené récemment.

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  1. Department of Planning and Demography, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Prinsengracht 130, 1018 VZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Anton C. Kuijsten

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Kuijsten, A.C. Changing family patterns in Europe: A case of divergence?. Eur J Population 12, 115–143 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01797080

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