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Fertility and Labor Market Responses to Reductions in Mortality

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  • Sonia Bhalotra

    (University of Warwick)

  • Atheendar Venkataramani

    (University of Pennsylvania)

  • Selma Walther

    (University of Sussex)

Abstract

We investigate women’s fertility, labor and marriage market responses to large declines in child mortality. We find delayed childbearing, with lower intensive and extensive margin fertility, a decline in the chances of ever having married, increased labor force participation and an improvement in occupational status. This constitutes the first evidence that improvements in child survival allow women to start fertility later and invest more in the labor market. We present a new theory of fertility that incorporates dynamic choices and reconciles our findings with existing models of behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Sonia Bhalotra & Atheendar Venkataramani & Selma Walther, 2021. "Fertility and Labor Market Responses to Reductions in Mortality," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 599, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
    • Handle: RePEc:cge:wacage:599
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    4. Iregui-Bohórquez, Ana María & Melo-Becerra, Ligia Alba & Ramírez-Giraldo, María Teresa & Tribín-Uribe, Ana María & Zárate-Solano, Héctor M., 2024. "Unraveling the factors behind women’s empowerment in the labor market in Colombia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    5. Bhalotra, Sonia & Clarke, Damian & Walther, Selma, 2022. "Women's Careers and Family Formation," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1120, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    6. Ager, Philipp & Hansen, Casper Worm & Lin, Peter Z., 2023. "Medical Technology and Life Expectancy: Evidence from the Antitoxin Treatment of Diphtheria," CEPR Discussion Papers 18350, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    7. Yew Seng Law & Chung-Khain Wye, 2023. "The effects of fertility on female labour force participation in OECD countries: the role of education and health," Studies in Economics and Econometrics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(3), pages 280-302, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    women’s labor force participation; fertility timing; childlessness; child mortality; medical innovation JEL Classification:J13; I18;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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