Micro-determinants of childlessness in Europe: a cross-gender and cross-country study Maria Letizia Tanturri, Annalisa Donno, Cristina Faludi, Anneli Miettinen, Anna Rotkirch, Ivett Szalma Abstract: Literature suggests that the factors influencing childlessness are somewhat different from those affecting low fertility in general, but it is not clear how childlessness is associated with individual characteristics and how it spreads across social classes. This study is the first one analysing micro level determinants of childlessness in a plurality of countries (Eastern, Northern, Central and Southern Europe), characterised by diverse socioeconomic and value background, different welfare regimes and varying prevalence of childlessness. The originality of this paper lays in the approach: studying the determinants of childlessness in a gender and a life course perspective (at ages 30-39 and 40-49). Moreover, we seek to identify the factors associated with persistency regarding the decision to remain childless. Our results show commonalities in the determinants of women’s and men’s childlessness, as are the factors behind postponement and definitive childlessness. Also country-specific effects are analysed. Keywords: Childlessness, Childlessness micro-level determinants, Low Fertility, European Countries, Multinomial Models