Publisher's Synopsis
In recent decades, marriage has constantly declined, divorce has strongly risen, and fertility has dropped sharply. At the same time, cohabitation has become common and the proportion of children born to unmarried mothers has increased. Are we indeed observing a cultural change that will result in the dissolution of the family, or are we just observing a shift from marriage to cohabitation with no effect whatsoever on the family? - - In this book, the author argues that both interpretations are incomplete. We seem to be observing an institutional and legal change with some significant effects on the (future) family. To demonstrate this, recent family change in 10 European countries is described; reasons for these changes, in particular for the popularity of cohabitation, are given; a cohabitation typology is introduced; future family change in Europe is modelled; and the legal, political, and demographic implications of past and future development are discussed.
