Childbearing Behavior in the Light of Different Housing Regimes: First Births in Sweden 1975-2004

A highly plausible assumption is that housing at reasonable costs are directly linked to both young individuals possibilities to form new and independent households and in the longer run to childbearing and family formation. Housing is thus one factor among several that hypothetically influence fertility. The aim of this study is to explore the association between housing and childbearing behavior in terms of first birth propensities during two different housing regimes in Sweden 1975-2004. The main finding from this study is that dwelling size interacts with policy period and that size has become increasingly important in connection to childbirth.