The Generations and Gender Survey in France: from survey design to initial findings

This introductory chapter outlines the main ambitions of the Generations and Gender Programme (GGP) upon which the studies published in this book are based, and gives a brief presentation of each one. In the early 2000s, the Population Activities Unit of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) launched a programme of comparative studies in around 20 countries to gain more insight into the recent sociodemographic changes affecting most western societies. In each country, the aim was to interview around 10,000 people aged 18-79 on three occasions, at regular three-year intervals. The results presented in this book are based exclusively on data from the first wave of the French survey (Étude des relations familiales et intergénérationnelles, ERFI), and focus on two key themes covered in the questionnaire: the stages of life and the diversity of family trajectories; and domestic organization within the couple