Regional context and realization of fertility intentions: Are capitals different? The examples of Austria and Hungary

Abstract

Despite regional variation in fertility, within-country differences have hardly been addressed in the realm of realizing fertility intentions. We address this shortcoming by analyzing the realization of short-term fertility intentions in Austria and Hungary, comparing data from the capitals (Vienna and Budapest) to the remaining regions. Results demonstrate that realization is lower in Hungary than in Austria and lower in Vienna than in the remaining parts of Austria, whereas in Hungary, behavior tends to be similar in the capital and other regions. Apart from individual characteristics (e.g. age), housing turned out to matter for realization of short-term fertility intentions in both countries. Decomposition analyses reveal that population composition plays a role in differences concerning the realization between countries and at the regional level. Compositional effects refer to partner context, parity and economic situation at the country level, and to age structure, partner context and attitudes towards parenthood at the regional level. In both countries, housing conditions also contribute to differences in realization rates between capitals and other regions.