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Social interactions, Ethnicity, Religion, and Fertility in Kenya

Author

Listed:
  • Sriya IYER

    (University of Cambridge, Faculty of Economics)

  • Melvyn WEEKS

    (University of Cambridge, Faculty of Economics)

Abstract

Reproductive externalities are important for fertility behavior in Kenya. We identify from anthropology structural forms of social interaction operating across individuals belonging to different ethnic and religious groups on the number of children ever born. We use the 1998 Demographic and Health Survey, combined with primary meteorological data on Kenya, and GMM methods, to show that social interaction effects by ethnicity are important over and above an individual's characteristics such as their religion to explain variations in fertility. Our findings have implications for policy debates in Kenya and in other developing countries about ethnic, religious, and other differences in fertility behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Sriya IYER & Melvyn WEEKS, 2020. "Social interactions, Ethnicity, Religion, and Fertility in Kenya," JODE - Journal of Demographic Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 86(3), pages 329-365, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:ctl:louvde:v:86:y:2020:i:3:p:329-365
    DOI: 10.1017/dem.2020.6
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    Cited by:

    1. Tabe-Ojong, Martin Paul Jr. & Nshakira-Rukundo, Emmanuel, 2021. "Religiosity and parental educational aspirations for children in Kenya," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 23(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fertility; Generalized methodof moments; Kenya; Social interaction;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C51 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Construction and Estimation
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • R15 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Econometric and Input-Output Models; Other Methods

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