Fertility in second unions in Austria: findings from the Austrian FFS.

The simultaneity of decreasing fertility and changing family structures in many European countries has led to a growing interest in fertility behavior in its relation to different family structures. The growing prevalence of higher-order unions (and the consequences for parity progression arising therefrom) is one example of an ongoing change in fertility behavior. Childbearing is not restricted to a single union but may extend over several partnerships. Fertility behavior in higher-order unions is becoming more and more important for determining completed fertility. Motivated by the work of Vikat et al. 1999, the authors investigate fertility behavior in second unions in Austria, focusing on whether and how it is influenced by the number of pre-union children of either partner.