Configurations of Sibship in Low-Fertility Settings: A Microsimulation Approach

Colin Odden, Ohio State University

While ample evidence supports the importance of sibling relationships at various life course stages, the compositional features of sibship over the lifespan are largely unknown. This paper uses microsimulation to explore the variation in sibling configurations that can occur under low fertility and mortality. Sibship size, the sex and age composition of available siblings, and duration of sibling ties are examined over the life span. The relationship between variation in fertility -- onset of childbearing, mean completed parity and distribution of completed family size – and sibship composition is explored, emphasizing the variability of sibling possible in low fertility populations.