The development of fertility in the context of populationpolicies in the Netherlands during the period from 1963 to 2006

The aim of this thesis is to describe the development of fertility in the Netherlands during the last half-century and look at it in the context of Dutch population policies in that period. Fertility is represented by the period total fertility rate and some other selected indicators relate to population policies. The second demographic transition theory provides this work with a theoretical basis. The core of the work consists of statistical data analysis, which purpose is to discover and statistically confirm the relationship between the period total fertility rate and population policy mesures implemented by the Dutch governments. Methods used are time series analysis, factor analysis and elements of regression analysis. It was concluded that the influence of most variables on the period total fertility rate cannot be statistically proven. The only indicator that is at least partly related to the period total fertility rate is ratio of female to male hourly wages. The results of this thesis show that the changes in gender equality presumably influence fertility the most