Overview

Abstract (English)

Studies of the relationship between public policy and fertility usually seek to identify the effects of one or more policy measures on fertility. This article, rather than studying the effect of a particular measure or of public policy as a whole, examines the ways in which Canadian couples in a position to have their first child react to the environment created by the State and by the labour market. Using data from a longitudinal prospective household survey carried out by Statistics Canada, the findings show that a small number of factors have an important effect. It appears that decisions resulting in first births are governed by two different mechanisms, depending on whether the couple does or does not have a low level of income. When the family income is low, the decision is related to the expected amount of recurrent financial support that would be received following the birth of the child; otherwise, it is related to the expected value of maternity benefits which would be received by the mother during maternity leave. In all cases, the woman’s permanent job plays a determining role. Ownership of the family home also plays an important part. The decision to have the first child seems to be governed above all by the situation of the woman, and by the couple’s evaluation of their family financial situation following the birth of the child.

Abstract (French)

Please note that abstracts only appear in the language of the publication and might not have a translation.