Declining Fertility: New Generations and New Perspectives How university-educated members of Generation Z in Sweden explain their decision to delay parenthood

Sammanfattning: This thesis aims to examine how university-educated members of Generation Z in Sweden explain their decision to delay parenthood. As declining fertility rates across the globe risk to strain the global economy, this topic has never been more relevant. Sweden and the Noridcs have served as examples on which other nations have based their fertility strategies, but as the region has seen a sudden, and so far unexplained, drop in fertility, continuing this practice may be futile. By examining existing research on fertility decline this thesis will show that current theoretical frameworks fall short of explaining these new trends. Instead it will suggest the application of Social Exchange Theory and Generational Theory to identify drivers of the current trend brake. To prove the concept, 6 qualitative interviews with university students from generation Z will be carried out, and the answers will be coded and analysed from these perspectives. The results identify four areas that have significant impact on the generation’s decision to delay parenthood: Economical Security, Safe Upbringing, Personal Fulfilment, and Environmental Concerns. The study contributes to current research by analysing each area and suggesting room for future research. New perspectives for policymakers are also identified as the overall results suggest that the drivers for the new generations are so widely different to previous generations that complete policy reforms or more targeted approaches might be needed.