International and Regional Differentiation of Fertility Over Time in the Western Part of the European Union between 1991 and 2008
2012
Abstract
This paper examines the differences between total fertility rates in the countries and regions in the western part of the European Union. It focuses mainly on an analysis and evaluation of the international and regional differentiation of total fertility rates in the context of convergence and divergence trends using statistical and cartographic methods.
The findings did not confirm the hypothesis of a converging total fertility rate, but they support the assumption of the spatial stability of fertility. At the same time the impact of the 'state effect' on the regional differentiation of fertility has increased.