As society has moved further toward nontraditional unions, new research shows traditional marriage is linked to higher fertility rates while cohabitation and relationship instability is linked to lower fertility.
“Marriage and cohabitation are far from indistinguishable in a country often described as a second demographic transition forerunner,” the study out of Finland finds.
The cultural “retreat from marriage” has likely contributed to many societies falling below replacement fertility – about two children per woman – according to Institute for Family Studies senior fellow Dr. Laurie DeRose. Read more…
