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The structure of social networks and fertility decisions: evidence from S. Nyanza District, Kenya

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Author Info
Hans-Peter Kohler (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany)
Jere R. Behrman
Susan Cotts Watkins

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Abstract

Demographers have increasingly argued that social interaction is an important mechanism for understanding fertility behavior. Yet, substantial uncertainty exists whether ´social learning´ or ´social influence´ constitutes the dominant mechanism through which social networks affect individual´s contraceptive decisions. This paper argues that thesse mechanism can be distinguished by analyzing the density of the social network ant its interaction with the proportion of contraceptive users among network partners. Our analyses that in areas with high market activity social learning is most relevant, where in regions with only modest market activity social influence constitutes the dominant mechanism of how social networks affect women´s contraceptive use. In areas in which social influence retards diffusion of family planning, therefore, with sufficient market development social learning may become more important than social influence and accelerate diffusion. (AUTHORS)

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Paper provided by Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany in its series MPIDR Working Papers with number WP-1999-005.

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Date of creation: May 1999
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Handle: RePEc:dem:wpaper:wp-1999-005

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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  1. Place, Frank & Adato, Michelle & Hebinck, Paul & Omosa, Mary, 2005. "The impact of agroforestry-based soil fertility replenishment practices on the poor in Western Kenya:," Research reports 142, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  2. Christoph Bühler, 2008. "On the structural value of children and its implication on intended fertility in Bulgaria," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 18(20), pages 569-610, June. [Downloadable!]
  3. Francesco C. Billari & Hans-Peter Kohler, 2002. "Patterns of lowest-low fertility in Europe," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2002-040, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany. [Downloadable!]
  4. Hans-Peter Kohler & Jere Behrman & Susan Watkins, 2000. "Empirical Assessments of Social Networks, Fertility and Family Planning Programs," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 3(7), September. [Downloadable!]
  5. Christoph Bühler & Hans-Peter Kohler, 2003. "Talking about AIDS," Demographic Research Special Collections, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 1(13), pages 397-438, September. [Downloadable!]
  6. Robert G. White & Laura Bernardi, 2008. "Close kin influences on fertility behavior," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2008-024, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany. [Downloadable!]
  7. Kirsten P. Smith & Susan Cotts Watkins, 2005. "Perceptions of Risk and Strategies for Prevention: Responses to HIV/AIDS in Rural Malawi," PGDA Working Papers 0305, Program on the Global Demography of Aging. [Downloadable!]
  8. Christoph Bühler & Ewa Fratczak, 2005. "Learning from others and receiving support: the impact of personal networks on fertility intentions in Poland," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2005-017, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany. [Downloadable!]
  9. Philip Kreager, 2009. "Darwin and Lotka," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 21(16), pages 469-502, October. [Downloadable!]
  10. Hedström, Peter & Kolm, Ann-Sofie & Åberg, Yvonne, 2003. "Social Interactions and Unemployment," Working Paper Series 2003:18, Uppsala University, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
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  11. King , Elizabeth M. & Behrman, Jere R., 2008. "Timing and duration of exposure in evaluations of social programs," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4686, The World Bank. [Downloadable!]
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  12. Enid Schatz, 2003. "Comparing, Contextualizing, and Conceptualizing," Demographic Research Special Collections, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 1(5), pages 143-174, September. [Downloadable!]
  13. Cormac Ó Gráda, 2006. "Dublin Jewish Demography a Century Ago," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 37(2), pages 123-147. [Downloadable!]
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  14. Jere Behrman & Hans-Peter Kohler & Susan C. Watkins, 2003. "Social Networks, HIV/AIDS and Risk Perceptions," PIER Working Paper Archive 03-007, Penn Institute for Economic Research, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania. [Downloadable!]
  15. J. Peter Neary, 2006. "Introduction to the Special Issue," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 37(2), pages 121-122. [Downloadable!]
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