When low fertility affects immigrants. The case of Italy

Livia Elisa Ortensi, Università degli Studi di Milano - Bicocca
Patrizia Farina, Università degli Studi di Milano - Bicocca

This analysis was aimed to examine the interrelation between migration, fertility and migration commitment and to analyze the presence of children in emigration. This dimension is crucial to evaluate the process of reconciliation of work and family life among immigrants, a theme that is often analyzed for Italian women, but is found crucial to determinate levels of fertility also among female immigrant workers. Starting from representative survey data the real level of fertility and the effective contribution to Italian population was discussed finding levels of fertility considerably below the official TFR calculated for foreign women. Migration commitment also plays a crucial role as family migrants and workers have different behaviors and desires in terms of fertility. While actual levels of foreign fertility are mostly due to family migrants for women with a strong working commitment (as for first migrants) fertility is already low. More of that migrant women find themselves more exposed than Italian women to problems of family and job reconciliation.