Fertility in England and Wales: a policy puzzle?

Relative to many other European countries, fertility in England and Wales has been maintained at moderately high levels. Other countries with similar TFRs have far more generous and universal family policies. This paper explores why that might be the case. The main argument which is sketched out in this brief note is that moderately high fertility can be sustained in different settings, but the resulting fertility profile will likely differ in predictable ways which can be linked to the family policy and the labour market.