The decision-making process within relationships prior to starting a family

The transition to parenthood can be viewed as the result of social interaction. It signifies the outcome of a decision-making process of two individuals in a relationship. Nevertheless, little research has, so far, looked into how the interpersonal couple level influences the decision. What needs to be considered here is, firstly, the relative importance of both partners' desire to have a child, or the partners' disposition towards reproduction. Secondly, the reciprocal influence,of both partners on each other within the decision-making process, and thirdly the relevance of both partners' biographical background with regard to their respective decisions and disposition must be assessed. In this article, a nonlinear simultaneous probit model is introduced, with the help of which the relative effects of the decision-making process within the relationship can be estimated. The analysis is based on the "Bamberg Married Couples Panel". The results of the model show an equal influence of both partners' dispositions on the decision itself. However, they also demonstrate different levels of influence of the partners within the process of interaction and convergence.