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Impacts of Housing Booms on Fertility in China: A Perspective From Homeownership

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  • Yinghao Pan
  • Hao Yang

Abstract

Due to the nexus of wealth effect and cost effect, the impact of housing price on fertility is ambiguous in theory. However, the relation between housing price and fertility is essential for policymakers, especially in developing countries. This paper constructs an individual-level panel data set of over 40,000 randomly selected Chinese females with detailed fertility history during 2006–2010 from the Census 2010. Exploiting variation of housing price growth across cities over time and conditional on marriage status, we show that a 1,000 yuan upward shift in housing price induces the possibility of new birth by 13.9% for homeowners. Homeownership plays a vital role in housing price on fertility. These findings suggest that the wealth effect of housing price dominates the cost effect during the sample periods in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Yinghao Pan & Hao Yang, 2022. "Impacts of Housing Booms on Fertility in China: A Perspective From Homeownership," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 45(5), pages 534-554, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:inrsre:v:45:y:2022:i:5:p:534-554
    DOI: 10.1177/01600176211066472
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Shuchao Miao & Youshuai Feng, 2025. "The Impact of Housing Prices on an Individual’s Perception of Social Safety: Evidence from Urban China," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 176(1), pages 107-132, January.
    2. Deng, Xin & Wang, Yang & Tao, Xiaobo, 2025. "Social trust and fertility intentions: Evidence from China with causal and structural insights," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    3. Lan, Jiajun & Peng, Zhiyu & Pan, Yinghao & Liu, Yihan, 2024. "Interest rate liberalization and household investment in China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    4. Na Tan & Sajid Anwar, 2025. "The moderating role of happiness in the relationship between fertility desire and behavior in China," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, December.

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