Fertility Choice Under Child Mortality and Social Norms

8 Pages Posted: 8 Oct 2010 Last revised: 18 Jul 2011

See all articles by Joydeep Bhattacharya

Joydeep Bhattacharya

Iowa State University - Department of Economics

Shankha Chakraborty

University of Oregon - Department of Economics

Date Written: August 20, 2010

Abstract

A cornerstone of demographic transition theory is that declines in infant and child mortality plausibly explain the onset of fertility decline in most countries. Simple versions of the Barro-Becker model of fertility choice have trouble delivering this link. We propose an extension, the inclusion of societal norms regarding family size, which, even with logarithmic preference over surviving children, can generate this link.

Keywords: child mortality, fertility, demographic transition, social norms

JEL Classification: O40, I12, J11

Suggested Citation

Bhattacharya, Joydeep and Chakraborty, Shankha, Fertility Choice Under Child Mortality and Social Norms (August 20, 2010). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1688102 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1688102

Joydeep Bhattacharya

Iowa State University - Department of Economics ( email )

260 Heady Hall
Ames, IA 50011
United States
515-294-5886 (Phone)
515-294-0221 (Fax)

Shankha Chakraborty (Contact Author)

University of Oregon - Department of Economics ( email )

Eugene, OR 97403
United States
541-346-4678 (Phone)

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