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Taking into account the context of social and demographic processes related with the second demographic transition and postmodernization of family life in Europe, this paper deals with delayed childbearing in Spain. While delayed childbearing is usually defined as something «problematic» by mass media as much as by scientific literature, we support here a explicit gender approach which provides a very different image. The analysis is based on both, data from National Birth Statistics and a qualitative research. The paper provides threefold results: a) a social profile of women who have delayed childbearing until their late thirties or forties, b) regional diversity in Spain concerning this subject and c) mothers' and fathers' discourses about parenthood and life cycle in the region of Madrid. Delayed childbearing seems clearly linked with high qualification careers although gender discrimination persists given that women are still in charge of children caring tasks. Perception of delayed childbearing is nevertheless very positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper has as its goal the measure of the accuracy of the pre-election surveys published in the Spanish media for the 2014 european Parliament, the regionals in the first half of 2015 and the locals in seven of the biggest Spanish cities. Starting with 120 analysed surveys, the aggregated distance model consists of the differences between predictions and actual results by every party and it develops an error coefficient that allows the measure and comparison of those predictions. Results are presented by election, communication group where predictions were published, research company producing them, political party and time distance to election day. Also it is analysed the existing relation between these and some other variables, such as sample size, and the error coefficient as dependent variable with the objective of knowing which are the most decisive factors affecting polls accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work argues that the recent fall in female fertility, in societies with south European demographic patterns, is caused to a great extent by problems related to marriage and couple formation. These are, in turn, strongly connected to the obstacles found by young people in their attempt to enter the adult world. This interpretation of reproductive levels in southern European societies is based on an empirical exercise in decomposition of the total fertility rate, through two different routes. It persuasively illustrates the well-known argument for a causal connection between nuptiality and fertility. The evidence put forward in this paper, based on data from the Spanish region of Madrid during last century's 80's and 90's, contributes to confirming, with a high degree of certainty, this connection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]