Shall I Leave? Shall I Have a Child? The Disruptive Effect of Migration in a Low Fertility Context

Cristina Bradatan, University of Central Florida

The disruptive effect of migration on fertility is well documented through studies of immigrants in the host country. However, the effect of emigration on the fertility level in the country of origin is generally insignificant, because usually migrants come from overpopulated, high fertility regions. Several countries from Southern and Eastern Europe share two common demographic features: a low fertility and a recent history of high migration. By documenting a case where emigration played an important role in decreasing country’s fertility, this paper argues that the relationship between migration and fertility is not spurious. If emigration level is high and fertility very low, it is then important to included migration level as a factor when the causes of low fertility are researched.