How to answer the fertility/employment question (and how not to).

Abstract

"The chapter reviews briefly the history of inquiries into the relationship between women's employment and fertility, at the individual level. Research on the subject appears to have reached an impasse....The first aim of the present chapter is to clarify why this is so and to present a view regarding what can be done to move the subject forward....A core problem is considered that impedes progress in investigating the individual-level relationship between labour force activity and fertility and how this may be resolved. A second aim is to put forward a schematic theory that might form the basis for organizing ideas on the subject. The chapter draws mainly on research carried out in developed countries...."