NAVIGATING SOCIETAL RESILIENCE AND DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSFORMATIONS IN A GLOBALIZED LANDSCAPE

In recent decades, the industrialized world has undergone transformative structural, technological, and cultural shifts, necessitating adaptation to a reshaped global landscape. This doctoral thesis explores the dynamics of societal adaptation to change, focusing on culture and demography. The first paper investigates the influence of long-standing cultural traits on cross-country differences in resilience. It employs an epidemiological approach to analyze the inherited component of trust values and religiosity, revealing positive associations with resilience, but nuances emerge when considering welfare regime types. The research emphasizes the importance of a nuanced cultural approach in understanding global disparities following crises. The second paper addresses changes in family formation and fertility behaviors in Western societies, driven by structural and cultural shifts challenging traditional family centrality. Using the second demographic transition (SDT) framework, the paper explores the role of inherited values in fostering or impeding demographic outcomes. Findings indicate the impact of gender egalitarianism, institutional distrust, and generalized trust on non-marital birth rates, particularly in societies with increased education. The study highlights the complex interplay of cultural traits and educational expansion in influencing SDT outcomes. The third paper, a systematic review of quantitative studies, focuses on the impact of liberalization policies on fertility dynamics. Synthesizing evidence from studies on trade liberalization, deregulation, and privatization, the review reveals macro-level impacts on socio-economic development and micro-level effects related to economic security and gender roles. In less developed countries, trade liberalization positively influences fertility, while individual decisions are shaped by economic security and gender considerations. The research underscores the multifaceted impact of liberalization policies on fertility at different levels of analysis.