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Fertility in the absence of self-control

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  • Bertrand Wigniolle

    (CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris sciences et lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement)

Abstract

This paper studies the quantity-quality trade-off model of fertility, under the assumption of hyperbolic discounting. It shows that the lack of self-control may play a different role in a developed economy and in a developing one. In the first case, characterized by a positive investment in quality, the lack of self control may tend to reduce fertility. In the second case, it is possible that the lack of self-control leads to both no investment in quality and a higher fertility rate. It is also proved that if parents cannot commit on their investment in quality, a small change of parameters may lead to a jump in fertility and education.

Suggested Citation

  • Bertrand Wigniolle, 2011. "Fertility in the absence of self-control," Post-Print halshs-00565321, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00565321
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00565321
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wigniolle, Bertrand, 2012. "Savings behavior with imperfect capital markets: When hyperbolic discounting leads to discontinuous strategies," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 116(2), pages 186-189.
    2. Gary S. Becker & Kevin M. Murphy & Robert Tamura, 1994. "Human Capital, Fertility, and Economic Growth," NBER Chapters, in: Human Capital: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis with Special Reference to Education, Third Edition, pages 323-350, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Becker, Gary S & Tomes, Nigel, 1976. "Child Endowments and the Quantity and Quality of Children," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 84(4), pages 143-162, August.
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    18. Matthias Wrede, 2011. "Hyperbolic discounting and fertility," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 24(3), pages 1053-1070, July.
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    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Fertility and self-control
      by Economic Logician in Economic Logic on 2011-03-18 19:03:00

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    1. Wigniolle, Bertrand, 2012. "Savings behavior with imperfect capital markets: When hyperbolic discounting leads to discontinuous strategies," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 116(2), pages 186-189.
    2. Jia Cao & Minghao Li, 2022. "Hyperbolic discounting in an intergenerational model with altruistic parents," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 35(3), pages 989-1005, July.
    3. Matthias Wrede, 2011. "Hyperbolic discounting and fertility," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 24(3), pages 1053-1070, July.
    4. Paula Eugenia Gobbi & Marc Goñi, 2020. "Childless Aristocrats. Inheritance and the Extensive Margin of Fertility," Working Papers ECARES 2020-03, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    5. Paula Eugenia Gobbi & Marc Goñi, 2020. "Childless Aristocrats. Inheritance and the extensive margin of fertility," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/316217, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    6. Paula E Gobbi & Marc Goñi, 2021. "Childless Aristocrats: Inheritance and the Extensive Margin of Fertility," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 131(637), pages 2089-2118.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Endogenous fertility; quasi-hyperbolic discounting; fécondité endogène; escompte quasi-hyperbolique;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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