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Children Are Bridges to Heaven: The Effects of Fertility on Later-Life Mortality

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  • Jason Fletcher
  • Hamid Noghanibehambari

Abstract

Several competing theories in a number of disciplines point to a possible influence of fertility history on health and mortality. However, the direction of effects is theoretically a-priori unknown and the empirical evidence is also inconclusive. This paper examines the effects of fertility during midlife on later-life longevity using Social Security Administration death records linked with the full-count 1940 census. We tackle endogeneity and selection concerns in the longevity-fertility association by implementing an instrumental variable based on the sex composition of first two children. Our findings indicate that having an extra child is linked to a decrease in women’s longevity by approximately 5 months. Men, on the other hand, experience smaller and insignificant reductions in longevity of about 3.3 months. This divergence in effects suggests that biological factors may play a small role in the relationship between fertility and later-life longevity.

Suggested Citation

  • Jason Fletcher & Hamid Noghanibehambari, 2025. "Children Are Bridges to Heaven: The Effects of Fertility on Later-Life Mortality," NBER Working Papers 34378, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34378
    Note: AG DAE EH
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • N0 - Economic History - - General

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