• Vienna Institute of Demography (Ed.) - Éva Beaujouan - Marie-Caroline Compans - Alice Goisis - Jasmin Passet-Wittig (Guest Eds.)

Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2026

Special issue: Delayed reproduction

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The Vienna Yearbook of Population Research is an open access journal that features contributions addressing population trends as well as a broad range of theoretical and methodological issues in population research. Besides Research articles and Review articles, the journal includes Data and Trends contributions, which analyse changes in population dynamics or present databases and data infrastructure. It also features Perspectives articles, which focus on ideas, concepts or theories, as well as invited Debates reflecting on selected questions and issues. Since 2008, the volumes have been devoted to selected themes following special calls for thematic issues.

The 2026 volume of the Vienna Yearbook of Population Research brings together a diverse set of contributions examining delayed reproduction as a defining feature of contemporary demographic change. The papers explore how later transitions to parenthood reshape reproductive trajectories, fertility intentions and birth outcomes for individuals and societies. Particular emphasis is placed on heterogeneities and inequalities by educational background, migration status, and place of residence. Using both quantitative and qualitative approaches and drawing on data from Europe, the Americas, and Asia, the issue highlights that delayed reproduction is a lasting trend with significant consequences for future fertility and societies more broadly.
Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften
Austrian Academy of Sciences Press
A-1011 Wien, Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2
Tel. +43-1-515 81/DW 3420, Fax +43-1-515 81/DW 3400
https://verlag.oeaw.ac.at, e-mail: verlag@oeaw.ac.at

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Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2026
ISSN 1728-4414
Print Edition
ISSN 1728-5305
Online Edition
ISBN 978-3-7001-5156-2
Print Edition
ISBN 978-3-7001-5157-9
Online Edition



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Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften
Austrian Academy of Sciences Press
A-1011 Wien, Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2,
Tel. +43-1-515 81/DW 3420, Fax +43-1-515 81/DW 3400
https://verlag.oeaw.ac.at, e-mail: bestellung.verlag@oeaw.ac.at
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Addressing the repro-paradox: From individual responsibility to the institutional conditions of reproductive timing

    Jiřina Kocourková

Vienna Yearbook of Population Research 2026, pp. , 2026/05/12

Special issue: Delayed reproduction

doi: 10.1553/p-p6cp-c64b


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doi:10.1553/p-p6cp-c64b


Abstract

Low-fertility societies are experiencing an unprecedented postponement of parenthood, driven by structural transformations in education, labour markets, housing and parenting norms. While social expectations push childbearing into ever-later stages of the life course, biological limits remain unchanged, leading to age-related declines in fertility and growing reliance on assisted reproductive technologies (ART). This divergence between social and biological time constitutes a broader “repro-paradox”: systemic constraints delay family formation, yet individuals are increasingly held responsible for the consequences of postponed fertility. The normalisation of medicalised reproduction masks the cumulative demographic effects of fertility postponement, narrowing reproductive windows, rising unmet fertility intentions and widening social inequalities in access to ART. Rather than signalling technological progress, growing ART dependence reflects structural failures to enable parenthood under optimal conditions. This contribution argues for reframing reproduction as a public good requiring collective responsibility and supportive institutional environments. Only through coherent social and family policies can societies restore reproductive resilience and realign biological and social temporalities.

Keywords: Reproductive paradox; Fertility postponement; Assisted reproduction; Reproductive resilience; Social and family policy

Published Online: 2026/05/12

Object Identifier: 0xc1aa5572 0x00419081

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Metrics: https://plu.mx/plum/a/?doi=10.1553/p-p6cp-c64b

Rights: © The Author(s), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 2026. This article/book is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) that allows the sharing, use and adaptation in any medium, provided that the user gives appropriate credit, provides a link to the license, and indicates if changes were made.