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Fertility versus Productivity: A Model of Growth with Evolutionary Equilibria

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Abstract

We develop a quantitative model that is consistent with three principal building blocks of Unified Growth Theory: the break-out from economic stagnation, the buildup to the Industrial Revolution, and the onset of the fertility transition. Our analysis suggests that (i) the escape from the Malthusian trap was triggered by the demographic catastrophes in the aftermath of the Black Death, (ii), household investment in children ultimately raised wages despite an increasing population, and (iii) rising human capital, combined with the increasing elasticity of substitution between child quantity and quality, reduced target family size and contributed to the fertility transition.

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  • Foreman-Peck, James & Zhou, Peng, 2020. "Fertility versus Productivity: A Model of Growth with Evolutionary Equilibria," Cardiff Economics Working Papers E2020/13, Cardiff University, Cardiff Business School, Economics Section.
    • Handle: RePEc:cdf:wpaper:2020/13
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    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. M. Aykut Attar, 2023. "Technology and survival in preindustrial England: a Malthusian view," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(4), pages 2071-2110, October.
    3. Sun, Tianyu & Wei, Sichao, 2022. "Longer parental time and lower fertility rate," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 22(C).
    4. Ratbek Dzhumashev & Ainura Tursunalieva, 2023. "Social externalities, endogenous childcare costs, and fertility choice," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(1), pages 397-429, January.
    5. Jisoo Hwang & Seok Ki Kim, 2023. "Unexpected longevity, intergenerational policies, and fertility," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(3), pages 1607-1640, July.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • N13 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Europe: Pre-1913

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