To improve the fertility policy system and build a fertility-friendly society, it is crucial to explore the effect of fertility support mix on attitudes toward having a second child. Using qualitative comparative analysis on survey experimental data, this study examines the impact of fertility support mix on the attitudes to have a second child. The findings indicate that, individually, economic support, time support, and caregiving support are positively associated with second-child fertility attitudes. However, the support mixes produce varying synergy effects, either positive or negative. Specifically, a mix of economic support and caregiving support generates positive synergistic effects, amplifying the promotion effects on the attitude towards second-child birth. Conversely, extending maternity leave undermines the positive impact of increased economic and caregiving support on the attitude toward second-child birth among women and highly educated individuals, creating a negative synergistic effect. Furthermore, caregiving support from spouses or parents has a stronger positive influence on attitudes toward a second child birth compared to institutional caregiving support. Based on these findings, the study emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive consideration of synergies among various supports and the critical role of family support in refining the fertility support system.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, China's fertility policy has become more supportive. Countries with low birth rates typically implement multiple measures to encourage childbearing. While numerous studies have examined effective fertility support mix in Western societies, there is a lack of analysis regarding how different fertility support measures interact within the Chinese context.

OBJECTIVE

This paper aims to identify the effect of economic support, time support, care support, and their mixes on people's attitudes toward having a second child in China, and to explore the heterogeneous effects of different mixes of fertility support on different groups. It provides a systematic supplement to existing fertility support research through experimental analysis results from Chinese society.

METHODS

This paper draws on data from a vignette survey experiment embedded in the Contemporary Cultural Values Survey conducted in December 2023 and January 2024 in China. It combines a multilevel fixed-effects model and a qualitative comparative analysis approach to explore how fertility support mixes influence people's attitudes toward having a second child.

RESULTS

The findings indicate that, individually, economic support, time support, and caregiving support are positively associated with second-child fertility attitudes. However, the support mixes produce varying synergy effects, either positive or negative. Specifically, a combination of economic support and caregiving support generates positive synergistic effects, amplifying the promotion effects on the attitude towards second-child birth. Conversely, extending maternity leave undermines the positive impact of increased economic and caregiving support on the attitude toward second-child birth among women and highly educated individuals, creating a negative synergistic effect. Furthermore, caregiving support from spouses or parents has a stronger positive influence on attitudes toward a second child birth compared to institutional caregiving support.

CONCLUSIONS

Different fertility support measures not only directly influence people's attitudes toward having a second child but also generate positive or negative synergistic effects among them. Within China's social context, family support serves as an important factor in motivating childbearing intentions and behaviors among couples.

CONTRIBUTION

This paper's contributions are reflected in the following three aspects. First, it employs a vignette experiment design to preliminarily examine the impact of fertility support policy and service combinations on attitudes toward having a second child. This research attempt supplements findings based on experimental contexts in Chinese society, building upon existing international empirical discoveries. Second, by designing vignette scenarios, it evaluates the nature of synergistic effects among different fertility support policies and service measures. This provides empirical insights for improving the fertility support policy system, contributing to enhanced efficiency in policy and fiscal resource allocation, thereby promoting the sustainable development of the fertility support policy framework. Third, by identifying fertility support expectations and demands among reproductive-age groups, it supplements demand-side information (user perspectives) for fertility support research. This helps mitigate social desirability bias and improves the efficiency of fertility support policy design and implementation.

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