The impact of economic crises on fertility in EU member states

The Impact of Economic Crisis on Fertility in EU Member States Abstract The present bachelor thesis describes and compares the development of economic and demographic indicators within the context of the economic crisis in Europe. Using cluster analysis 27 European Union members have been divided into groups with similar characteristics. Moreover the countries were analysed based on results of cluster analysis covering selected years 2006 and 2011 which were selected by assuming of different values of parameters before and after the main impact of the economic crisis. European countries have been facing a decrease of total fertility rate below replacement levels from 60th of 20th century. It can be quite difficult to identify reasons of the above mentioned symptoms, but aspects affecting the total fertility level may be just changes in reproductive behaviour patterns associated with the impact of the second demographic transition and changing economic and political conditions in European countries. As there is a different total fertility level in various European countries we can see different interventions of local governments through a different pro-natal policy to encourage fertility. Key words: economic indicators, demographic indicators, economic crisis, European Union, family policy, cluster analysis