Israel’s Long and Winding Road to a Second Demographic Transition : A Study on Attitudes in Accordance with the Second Demographic Transition in Israel 2009-2019

Abstract: This cross-sectional study focuses on attitudes in accordance with the Second Demographic Transition (SDT) in the adult population of Israel. Such attitudes are expressed by favoring an establishment of a family at older ages and favoring a small family size. Such attitudes are also expressed by supporting certain forms of living arrangements that are alternative to marriage. Based on results from Israel’s Social Survey (ISS), it seems that during 2009-2019, there was a nationwide rise in support of attitudes in accordance with the SDT. This trend is well apparent, despite a moderate decline in support of divorce as the best solution in insolvable relationships. In addition, it was found that the level of religiosity had a substantial and negative effect on the probability of supporting attitudes in accordance with the SDT. Furthermore, the type of residence (i.e., living in an urban environment) had no substantial effect on the probability of supporting these attitudes. Additionally, although differences in support of these attitudes were found between residents of Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv, they were less consistent and substantial after the effects of religious affiliation and religiosity were considered. However, residing in Tel-Aviv had substantial and positive effects on the probability of accepting unmarried couples’ parenthood and on the probability of preferring establishing a family for women aged 30 and above. This study also points out that certain attitudes are more supported by Jews, while others are more supported by Muslims.