A multivariate regression analysis of differences in fertility of United States Counties

Testing the economic theory of fertility with cross‐sectional and change data

“…However, numerous social scientists, including Heer and Boynton (1970), Hammond (1973), Cain and Weininger (1973), and Loftin and Hill (1974), have argued that areal data should be utilized in situations in which individual level data suitable for the desired analyses do not exist. Furthermore, several students of fertility have pointed out that areal-level analyses enjoy certain advantages over individual-level analyses, leading to the conclusion that 228…”

“…The reader should examine Heer and Boynton (1970), Gardner (1973), and Cain and Weininger (1973) for arguments in this regard especially relevant to the study of fertility.…”

“…Among these, analyses by Mincer (1963), Bean and Wood (1974), and Gardner (1973) utilized individual level data while studies by Heer and Boynton (1970), Gardner (1972), DeTray (1973), and Cain and Weininger (1973) employed areal data (areal units in the latter four studies were counties, states, counties, and SMSA's, respectively). Almost all of these studies used male income as the indicator of capability to purchase children and female income or wage level as the indicator of cost of children.…”

Racial opportunity structures and black fertility

“…Some recently published reports reveal ways in which community contexts and structural conditions, that are beyond the control of the individual, influence fertility and improve our understanding of fertility levels and processes (Billy & Moore 1992;Hogan & Kitagawa 1985;South & Lloyd 1992; see Cain & Weininger 1973;Cain & Dooley 1976;Collver 1968;Heer & Boynton 1970 for earlier examples of sub-national, aggregate fertility research). These studies move beyond strictly individual-level strategies, making cogent arguments for the employment of contextual explanations of demographic behavior.…”