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The quantity–quality fertility–education trade-off

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  • Haoming Liu

    (National University of Singapore, and IZA, Germany)

Abstract

At the national level, it has long been observed that a country’s average education level is negatively associated with its total fertility rate. At the household level, it has also been well documented that children’s education is negatively associated with the number of children in the family. Do these observations imply a causal relationship between the number of children and the average education level (the quantity–quality trade-off)? A clear answer to this question will help both policymakers and researchers evaluate the total benefit of family planning policies, both policies to lower fertility and policies to boost it.

Suggested Citation

  • Haoming Liu, 2015. "The quantity–quality fertility–education trade-off," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 143-143, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izawol:journl:y:2015:n:143
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Matthias Doepke & Anne Hannusch & Fabian Kindermann & Michèle Tertilt, 2022. "The Economics of Fertility: A New Era," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2022_347, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    2. Glitz, Albrecht & Wissmann, Daniel, 2021. "Skill Premiums and the Supply of Young Workers in Germany," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    demographic transition; fertility; education; child quality; quantity–quality trade-off;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • N3 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy

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