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Work from Home and Fertility

Author

Listed:
  • Cevat Giray Aksoy

    (King’s College London)

  • Jose Maria Barrero

    (Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México)

  • Nicholas Bloom

    (Stanford University)

  • Katelyn Cranney

    (Stanford University)

  • Steven J. Davis

    (Stanford University)

  • Mathias Dolls

    (ifo Institute)

  • Pablo Zarate

    (Princeton University)

Abstract

We establish a positive relationship between work from home (WFH) and fertility, drawing on our Global Survey of Working Arrangements (38 economies, N = 19,241) and our US Survey of Working Arrangements and Attitudes (N = 102,411). Respondents who WFH at least 1 day per week had more biological children from 2021 to early 2025, and plan to have more children in the future, compared to observationally similar persons who do not WFH. Respondents whose spouse or domestic partner works from home also report higher recent and planned fertility. When both partners WFH at least 1 day per week, our results suggest that total lifetime fertility is greater by 0.2 children in our global sample (0.18 in our United States sample), as compared to couples where neither partner engages in any WFH. We find qualitatively similar patterns in our Asian subsample (N = 4,323), but some results are statistically insignificant for Asian women.

Suggested Citation

  • Cevat Giray Aksoy & Jose Maria Barrero & Nicholas Bloom & Katelyn Cranney & Steven J. Davis & Mathias Dolls & Pablo Zarate, 2026. "Work from Home and Fertility," ADB Economics Working Paper Series 839, Asian Development Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:adbewp:022386
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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
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation
    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods

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