European Latecomers: Cohabitation in Italy and Spain

Marta Dominguez, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Teresa Castro Martin, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Letizia Mencarini, University of Florence

In this paper we focus on cohabitation as an emerging although marginal trend in southern Europe, with Spain and Italy as case studies. We hypothesize that in this area, cohabitation is selective of women with higher potential for economic independence (employed, with higher education, living out of the parental home). We also discuss the roles that consensual unions may play throughout family formation processes, and whether its meaning is similar in both countries under study. In order to address these issues, we use both cross-sectional and longitudinal techniques. We first present a description of the situation for our variables of interest at the aggregate level, using data from ISSP surveys, Censuses and National Statistics. Then we carry out a cross-sectional study of current marital status as well as a longitudinal analysis of first union formation, with data from the FFS. Our preliminary results confirm the selection hypothesis.