<p>Against a background of falling and low fertility, this paper presents an analysis of trends in fertility in the UK across cohorts born between 1935 and 1975. The decline in fertility is shown to have two distinct phases - first, a fall in third and higher-order births (affecting cohorts born 1935-45) and second, a delay in childbearing and a rise in childlessness (affecting cohorts born since 1945). The delay in childbearing and rise in childlessness cannot all be explained by the rise in female participation in higher education, rather there has been increasing polarization in fertility and employment by education.</p>
Authors
![Sarah Smith](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2022-07/Sarah%20Smith.jpg?itok=0-hn5Gx1)
Research Associate University of Bristol
Sarah is a Research Associate at the IFS and Head of the Department of Economics at the University of Bristol with interest in applied microeconomics.
![Person graphic](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2022-06/IFS-person-graphic.png?itok=hWCtTSrz)
CMPO, University of Bristol
Report details
- Publisher
- Centre for Market and Public Organisation
Suggested citation
Ratcliffe, A and Smith, S. (2006). Fertility and women's education in the UK: a cohort analysis. London: Centre for Market and Public Organisation. Available at: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/fertility-and-womens-education-uk-cohort-analysis (accessed: 30 June 2024).
Related documents
More from IFS
Understand this issue
![Microphone](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2024-06/Microphone.jpg?itok=soM7Wvbz)
Election Special: Your questions answered
27 June 2024
![Tom Waters](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2024-06/tom%20waters.jpg?itok=faDtwS3F)
What is the two-child limit in benefits?
27 June 2024
![Christine Farquharson](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2024-06/Christine%20universities.jpg?itok=ZtxmvU3f)
What has been happening with university finances?
27 June 2024
Policy analysis
![Welsh town with mountains behind](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2024-06/Welsh-town-feature.jpg?itok=5axb5wZn)
How would the parties’ tax and spending plans affect Scotland and Wales?
28 June 2024
![Breakfast club](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2024-06/Breakfast-club.jpg?itok=dEyGgrwT)
Free breakfast clubs in schools: what Labour’s plans would mean for pupils and families
25 June 2024
![Polling station](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2024-06/Polling-station-school.jpg?itok=uS-l6b-1)
What are the parties’ plans for benefits and taxes?
24 June 2024
Academic research
![Working paper cover](/sites/default/files/styles/portrait/public/2024-06/WP202428-The-impact-of%20labour-demand-shocks-when-occupational-labour-supplies-are-heterogeneous.jpg?itok=Erq9-V9O)
The impact of labour demand shocks when occupational labour supplies are heterogeneous
28 June 2024
![Children eating at school](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2023-03/Children%20eating%20at%20school.jpg?itok=K-6d8SkB)
Economics of Childhood Nutrition Workshop
![Working Paper Cover](/sites/default/files/styles/portrait/public/2024-06/WP202426-Intergenerational-mobility-in-socio-emotional-skills_Page_01.jpg?itok=wH1znQhh)
Intergenerational mobility in socio-emotional skills
5 June 2024