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Fertility and rural electrification in Bangladesh

Author

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  • Fujii, Tomoki
  • Shonchoy, Abu S.

Abstract

We use a panel dataset from Bangladesh to examine the relationship between fertility and the adoption of electricity with the latter instrumented by infrastructure development and the quality of service delivery. We find that the adoption of electricity reduces fertility, and this impact is more pronounced when the household already has two or more children. This observation can be explained by a simple household model of time use, in which adoption of electricity affects only the optimal number of children but not necessarily current fertility behavior if the optimal number has not yet been reached.

Suggested Citation

  • Fujii, Tomoki & Shonchoy, Abu S., 2015. "Fertility and rural electrification in Bangladesh," IDE Discussion Papers 521, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
    • Handle: RePEc:jet:dpaper:dpaper521
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Obsa Urgessa Ayana & Jima Degaga, 2022. "Effects of rural electrification on household welfare: a meta-regression analysis," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 69(2), pages 209-261, June.
    2. Ujjayant Chakravorty & Ridhima Gupta & Martino Pelli, 2022. "The economics of rural energy use in developing countries," CIRANO Working Papers 2022s-12, CIRANO.
    3. Leduchowicz-Municio, A. & López-Gozález, A. & Domenech, B. & Ferrer-Martí, L. & Udaeta, M.E.M. & Gimenes, A.L.V., 2022. "Last-mile rural electrification: Lessons learned from universalization programs in Brazil and Venezuela," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    4. Li, Jianglong & Gao, Jinfeng & Liu, Hongxun, 2024. "Reducing energy poverty by nearly universal pension coverage of rural China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    5. Gashaye, Amare Terefe & Liu, Hongxun & Li, Jianglong, 2025. "The effect of access to electricity on rural households of underdeveloped countries: Evidence from Ethiopia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    6. Yang, Yeonbin, 2025. "Does Household Electrification Empower Rural Boys and Girls Alike? Evidence from Brazil," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    7. Fujii, Tomoki & Shonchoy, Abu S. & Xu, Sijia, 2018. "Impact of Electrification on Children’s Nutritional Status in Rural Bangladesh," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 315-330.
    8. Gupta, Tanu & Khan, Md. Tajuddin & Negi, Digvijay Singh, 2025. "Agriculture, electrification and gendered time use in rural Bangladesh," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    9. Xinyi Duanmu & Jintong Yu & Xiaoyan Yuan & Xuecheng Zhang, 2025. "How Does Digital Infrastructure Mitigate Urban–Rural Disparities?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-23, February.
    10. Richard S. J. Tol, 2023. "Navigating the energy trilemma during geopolitical and environmental crises," Papers 2301.07671, arXiv.org.
    11. Cust,James Frederick & Mensah,Justice Tei, 2020. "Natural Resource Discoveries, Citizen Expectations and Household Decisions," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9372, The World Bank.
    12. Sanjoy Kumar Saha, 2024. "Assessing the impact of rural electrification on economic growth: a comprehensive analysis considering informal economy and income inequality in Bangladesh," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 8(2), pages 551-583, June.
    13. Wan, Guanghua & Wang, Chen & Zhang, Xun & Zuo, Congming, 2024. "Income inequality effect of public utility infrastructure: Evidence from rural China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    14. Raza, Muhammad Yousaf & Lin, Boqiang, 2023. "Future outlook and influencing factors analysis of natural gas consumption in Bangladesh: An economic and policy perspectives," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    15. Subedi, Mukti Nath & Bharadwaj, Bishal & Rafiq, Shuddhasattwa, 2023. "Who benefits from the decentralised energy system (DES)? Evidence from Nepal’s micro-hydropower (MHP)," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    16. Rahaman, Mohammad Mijanur & Islam, Md. Monirul & Polbitsyn, Sergei Nikolaevich & Abbas, Shujaat, 2024. "The electrification-social development nexus in Bangladesh: Do governmental policies matter?," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    17. Wang, Yao & Du, Zhili, 2024. "Has energy poverty entangled the households by hindering the filial generation?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    18. Zaman, Rafia & Borsky, Stefan, 2025. "Solar power play: Uncovering political capture in distributing electricity access," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    19. World Bank, 2020. "Demographic Transition," World Bank Publications - Reports 33672, The World Bank Group.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • O20 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - General

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