Seminars & Events
APL (Ajiken Power Lunch)
Prof. Claus Portner (Seattle University) Quantity Responses to Quality: Initial Endowments and Endogenous Fertility
Date & time
Thursday, the 3rd of September, 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Venue
Abstract
Parents make fertility decisions sequentially, updating their plans as they learn about each child. Quantity-quality trade-offs suggest that fertility choices may respond to the observed health of each birth, yet researchers frequently assume away endogenous fertility. This paper models parents' fertility decisions by combining Becker's quantity-quality framework with Behrman's sibling-allocation framework and related models. We then estimate the relationship between children's initial endowment (measured as birth weight) and subsequent fertility choices and preferences in West Africa. We find that parents reduce fertility following the birth of larger (healthier) babies. This is corroborated using exogenous variation in birth weight from idiosyncratic exposure to Harmattan dust in utero.
Speaker
Prof. Claus Portner (Seattle University)
Moderator
Contact:
Institute of Developing Economies, APL Organizers
E-mail: APL