Citation

Istenic, Majda C. (2010). Studying fertility behavior of farm population as a contribution to understanding overall low fertility trends: the case of Slovenia.. Bonanno, Alessandro; Bakker, Hans; Jussaume, Raymond; Kawamura, Yoshio; & Shucksmith, Mark (Eds.) (pp. 77-91). Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Abstract

The extremely low fertility of European society is today one of the most important policy and scientific topics due to its adverse effect on increasing aging of the population. Since extant research has evidenced a huge complexity of below replacement fertility, it cannot be satisfactorily explained on the basis of a single pattern. Each country can therefore contribute through specific case studies to a better overall understanding of this phenomenon. This chapter presents the results of research into the fertility behavior of farm population, the group with the highest fertility rate in Slovenia. They reveal that the fertility of farm population is not based on a higher respect for family norms and related values, as some critics of contemporary life patterns of the young generation might suppose. The results indicate that it is more probable that motivation for a higher number of children among the farm population derives from their social context; the specific social relations of ‘gift exchange’ that help to maintain the particular nature of ensuring their everyday livelihoods.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/S1057-1922(2010)0000016009

Reference Type

Book Section

Year Published

2010

Author(s)

Istenic, Majda C.