How broadband internet access shapes fertility decisions: Evidence and mechanisms

The rapid expansion of internet infrastructure has substantially transformed various dimensions of daily life. In the context of China’s declining fertility rate, this study investigates the causal impact of broadband adoption on fertility behavior by employing a difference-in-differences (DID) strategy that exploits the Broadband China initiative as an exogenous policy shock. The empirical results indicate that broadband expansion significantly increases fertility rates among women of reproductive age, and the findings remain robust across multiple sensitivity checks. Further heterogeneity analysis shows that the effects are particularly pronounced among younger women, rural residents, individuals with higher educational attainment, and those with younger spouses or co-residing parents. Mechanism analysis suggests that broadband promotes fertility by enhancing access to healthcare services, facilitating flexible employment arrangements, and improving household financial resilience. These findings underscore the demographic consequences of digital infrastructure development and offer policy-relevant insights for mitigating fertility decline in the digital era.