Three Decades of Post-Communist Fertility Transition in a Subnational Context: The Case of Slovakia

Fertility transition is taking place in all post-communist countries. Not many studies have been conducted at the subnational level to prove the universal nature of this transition or, on the contrary, the diversity of regional trajectories. This study attempts to reveal whether the same explanatory schemes can be applied to fertility transformation mechanisms on a regional as well as a national level. Using a principal component analysis and a cluster analysis, significant spatial differences were found. A rather unique finding is that while there is some convergence in terms of intensity, fertility tempo is a major factor for diversity. This study tries to explain regional differences and, their changes over time. Some economic factors are identified as being important for explaining spatial differences in the fertility quantum and - alongside some cultural factors - in the fertility tempo as well.