DIAS TALK
Renowned sociologist Gøsta Esping-Andersen visits DIAS on 4th December
In an open event at DIAS, Gøsta Esping-Andersen will explore the complex interplay of economic and cultural factors shaping fertility trends across different educational groups.
Under the headline 'The Fertility Drop Puzzle', Gøsta Esping-Andersen, dubbed “the dean of welfare state scholars", will delve into the intriguing dynamics of fertility trends from 2000 to 2020. His analysis aims to uncover the reasons behind the sharp decline in birth rates observed in many countries during the 2010-2020 decade, and the lack of subsequent recovery.
Esping-Andersen's research highlights a contrasting trend among different educational groups, noting that the postponement and decline in fertility rates are predominantly seen in first births, particularly among younger, less-educated women and men. This demographic appears more likely to delay childbirth, gradually aligning their fertility patterns with those of higher-educated individuals. By transitioning from macro-level comparisons to detailed micro-data from select countries, Esping-Andersen seeks to identify the key drivers behind these fertility trends. His investigation considers factors such as housing prices, employment precarity, income levels, unemployment rates, and the influence of what is sometimes deemed as 'postmodern values.'
The event is open for all and requires no registration to attend.
Time and place
4th December 2024, 11.15-12-15
DIAS Auditorium (SDU Odense)
Fioniavej 34, DK-5230 Odense M
About Gøsta Esping-Andersen
Gøsta Esping-Andersen, professor emeritus at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, is a distinguished scholar in the fields of demography, economics, and sociology. A native of Denmark, he earned his PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His extensive academic career includes teaching positions at Harvard University, the University of Trento, and the European University in Italy.
Esping-Andersen's influential publications include "The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism," which earned him the APSA's Aaron Wildavsky Enduring Contribution Award in 2005, and "The Social Foundations of Postindustrial Economies." Currently, he serves as a research professor at the University of Bocconi, focusing on family demography and social stratification.