title: Ex-nuptial births and unmarried cohabitation in Australia.
abstract: The authors examine fertility trends among unmarried couples in Australia.  It is found that consensual couples with illegitimate births "are frequently of lower socio-economic status than couples with nuptial births although they do not differ from married couples in their attitudes to marriage and having children.  We argue that uncertain economic circumstances make some couples hesitate to marry; instead they decide to live in de facto relationships in which unplanned pregnancies occur."
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khoo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mcdonald
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D001315:Australia; D001519:Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D003710:Demography; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D004467:Economics; D005298:Fertility; D007086:Illegitimacy; D017533:Marital Status; D008393:Marriage; D010139:Pacific Islands; D011153:Population; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011584:Psychology; D012106:Research; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012847:Single Person; D012919:Social Behavior; D012923:Social Class; D012940:Social Problems; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Attitude; Australia; Behavior; Comparative Studies; Consensual Union; Decision Making; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Developing Countries; Differential Fertility; Economic Factors; Fertility; Illegitimacy; Marital Status; Marriage; Marriage Patterns; Nuptiality; Oceania; Population; Population Dynamics; Pregnancy, Unplanned; Psychological Factors; Reproductive Behavior; Research Methodology; Social Behavior; Social Problems; Socioeconomic Factors; Socioeconomic Status; Studies; Unmarried