[Family formation in the Federal Republic of Germany: results of the panel study of the Federal Institute for Population Research]

For this long-term study a sample...of the marriage cohort 1974/75 [in the Federal Republic of Germany] was interviewed five times in succession at two year intervals. The questions referred to their fertility aspirations the number of children the dwelling situation the daily routine of housewives... economic activity their expectations concerning family and social policy their plans for the future and problems in the past....This volume primarily attempts to deduce from the characteristics covered [the] differences in the reasons given for the individual family sizes. The authors find "that the extent to which the partners agree on the...[significance] to be attached to marriage and family...is decisive for the process of family formation and that the choice of the partner already largely determines the number of children a couple is going to have." (SUMMARY IN ENG AND FRE) (EXCERPT)