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Fertility: Other Readings. Kimmel/Hoffman book : Chapter 4 by Averett (note she is coauthor for text too). “Natalist” policies : policies that affect fertility, whether by intent or otherwise (US: no policies designed to affect fertility but still policies have effect).
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Fertility:Other Readings • Kimmel/Hoffman book: • Chapter 4 by Averett (note she is coauthor for text too). • “Natalist” policies: policies that affect fertility, whether by intent or otherwise (US: no policies designed to affect fertility but still policies have effect). • Four policies analyzed: • Taxes • Welfare • Medicaid • Maternity leave.
Effects of Policies on Fertility • Review of fertility theory • 1) Fertility as consequence of rational choice; expressed as a function of income, prices, and preferences. • 2) Although theory cannot predict for sure if female wage will cause fertility, most empirical work supports this (but recall new theory!). • Fertility effects of taxes: • Personal exemption: each person in household (including kids) exempts some of income from taxable Y. • $ exemption covers 4-9% of total costs of raising a child. • Yes fertility.
Continued: Fertility Effects of Policy • EITC: • $ value varies by family size; • most available for single parents. • Recent research paper could not establish a link between EITC and fertility. • Cash Welfare and Fertility: • $ only available in families w/kids; • $ value as # kids . • Family caps imposed by some states. • Evidence mixed—at most, welfare $$ plays small role; • Concern that imposition of family cap might abortions.
Cont.: Fertility Effects of Policy • Maternity leave and fertility: • FMLA: Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993: • quite controversial: • US is only industrialized not to guarantee paid maternity leave; • requiring firms to finance such leave raises costs. • Yes evidence that maternity leave might fertility.
Work/Family Balance in the US • “Mommy Track”: by Felice Schwartz in 1989 HBR article. • Recent popular media stories: • Professional women leaving workforce due to difficulty in balancing work and family. • For some: motherhood provides natural opportunity for “career change” • Anecdotal evidence can lead to discrimination. • Some empirical evidence, but weak. • Why? Motherhood pay gap? • Yes a significant gap but not for college-educated. • Yes fertility delay can gap.
Fertility Transition • Longer view of fertility trends • 1) Fertility transition: • fertility from 1870 to 1930s. • Related to economic development (and agriculture). • Observed in all countries (even newly-developing countries today). • Persistent difficulty in explaining timing; some due to female education. • 2) Baby boom: • Big fertility from 1945 – 1964. • Partially response to delayed fertility and economic growth.