Normative or Economic Behavior? Religiosity and Women's Employment in Israel

Olivia Ekert-Jaffe, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED)
Haya Stier, Tel Aviv University

This study is aimed at exploring the extent to which religiosity affects the economic logic that rules the relationship between women’s work and their fertility. Economic theory emphasizes the contradiction between work and fertility that holds in the absence of friendly family policy. We argue that normative forces may offset rational calculations and affect women’s behavior regarding childbirth and work. Our study focuses on Israel, a socially diverse country with high levels of both fertility and female employment. Strong religious commitment encourages large families in Israel. The analysis is based on a survey that includes multidimensional biographical perspective and allows is to unveil interactions between individuals’ educational, occupational, residential, and familial characteristics. It is based on logit and duration analysis. Preliminary results suggest a significant difference in the impact of education on fertility between religious groups, but as far as market involvement is considered, the economic logic seems to prevail.