Presencial: Sala Àngels Torrents, CED
Virtual: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7905645674
Codi: 1984

Títol.- The diversity of life course patterns among the post-war generation in liberal regime countries.

Abstract.- Most studies examining diversity of life course patterns in countries characterized as liberal regimes tend to focus on a single country. As a result, either high or low diversity of life trajectories presumed to exist across liberal countries and among disadvantaged groups in these settings derives not from empirical evidence but rather from the extrapolation of an analytical construct. In this study, we explore the diversity of employment, marital, and fertility life course patterns among the post-war generation, by gender and educational level, in five countries characterized as being close to the liberal regime: England, Ireland, Switzerland, the United States, and Chile. We use comprehensive, harmonized, cross-national life history data and longitudinal statistical methods. Contrary to our hypotheses, our findings show no consistent patterns of high employment diversity and low marital and fertility diversity among liberal regimes. Furthermore, those in structurally disadvantaged positions (women and the less educated) do not always follow more diverse work and family trajectories. These findings highlight the limitations of cross-sectional and aggregate perspectives to account for life course patterns beyond national borders, and the advantages of taking longitudinal and comparative perspectives to assess similarities and differences in life course trajectories between and within countries.