Fertility of immigrants and their descendants in West Germany: an event-history approach

Abstract

The thesis analyzes transitions to first, second, and third births in West Germany among immigrant women from Turkey, former Yugoslavian states, Greece, Spain, and Italy. We apply an intensity-regression analysis to data of the German Socio-Economic Panel study and distinguish between first-generation immigrants and descendants. Elevated birth risks for the first generation shortly following the move are traced back to an interrelation of events. There is evidence for adaptive behavior and influence of socialization in shaping fertility; but not a disruptive effect of international migration.