Changes in reproductive behaviour within the second demographic transtition in the selected European countries

Changes in reproductive behaviour within the second demographic transition in the selected european countries Abstract The aim of this work is to analyze the changes in reproductive behavior within the second demographic transition in five countries of Europe. The Czech Republic, Estonia, The Netherlands, Finland and Portugal were selected. Each of them represents one of trajectories of the second demographic transition in the European region. Within theoretical concept of the second demographic transition the research of cultural factors was particularly stressed as they are considered to be the main factors of stimulation of the changes. Attention was focused on the analysis of value orientation of selected populations using data of the European Values Study (EVS) and the International Social Survey (ISSP). Analysis of reproductive behavior in those countries was included as well. It was found out, that changes in value orientation in the post-communistic countries couldn't have been the only determinant of changes in reproductive behavior. Moreover, the value change has been still taking place even in the countries where the second demographic transition started three or four decades ago. The European-wide mechanism of the differentiation in value orientations has been identified. The holders of liberal..