Do fertility intentions affect fertility behavior?

We examine the relationship between fertility;intentions and fertility beha vior using a sample of 2,812 non-Hispanic Whites interviewed twice by the N ational Survey of Families and Households. Time I fertility intentions are strong and persistent predictors of fertility even after controlling for ba ckground and life course variables. The effect is greater when the intentio ns are held with greater certainty In contrast, the expected timing of birt hs has a much more modest and short-term effect. Only marital status has an effect with a magnitude that is comparable with that of fertility intentio ns. Fertility intentions no not mediate the effects of other variables but no contribute additional predictive power The substantive importance of int entions emphasizes the salience of individual motivations and argues for a redirection of fertility research toward studies of the interactions betwee n the individual and society.