A quantitative study of the determinants of fertility behavior

Abstract

Recent literature shows great interest in the quantitative study of the determinants of fertility. In a similar way, this study takes an across-country approach to specify independent variables, to separate economic from social and political variables, to make distinct comparisons of fertility responses in developed and underdeveloped countries, and to examine a wide range of hypotheses. The key is empirical analysis by separate regressions. This permits direct comparisons of countries at different levels of development, increases the probability of obtaining statistically significant regression coefficients, and standardizes the analysis for factors which vary with level of development.In this way, the authors determine positive and statistically significant relations between fertility and illiteracy, child mortality, proportion of agricultural population, proportion of nonfarm selfemployment, and overcrowded housing and show a negative significant relationship between fertility and communism. The study does not establish statistically significant relations, however, for population density, social mobility, substitutes for sexual intercourse, achievement motivation, protein in the diet, and religion.In general, the signs of the regression coefficients for the separate levels of development are the same as those for all countries combined. Any failure to attain statistical significance may be explained by small sample size and insufficient variation in the variables for separate levels of development.

A multivariate analysis of interstate variation in fertility of teenage girls.

“…These variables represent the type of factors shown in other studies to be associated with the fertility of women in general (not necessarily U.S. teenagers). [1][2][3][4] They constitute the independent variables likely to affect fertility through a direct or indirect causal chain. A different dependent variable was used in each of two regression analyses: 1) the 1974 fertility rate for 15-to 19-year-olds, and 2) the percentage change (fall) from 1970 to 1974 for that rate.8 All data are aggregated by state, the state being the unit of analysis.…”

“…These attitudes and behavior patterns may vary with the race, family income, educational level, residence, and certainly with marital status (if marriage occurs prior to pregnancy). [1][2][3][4] Each of these factors may, in turn, affect one or more of the others.…”

Causality and interdependence analysis in linear econometric models with an application to fertility

“…As far as the determinants of fertility behaviour are concerned, the seminal paper by Friedlander and Silver [19] can be considered a useful and complete description of the socio-political and economic variables which impact on fertility rates for both developed and underdeveloped countries. More importantly, their paper attempts to specify the independent variables so that to build a model whose causal structure can be analysed.…”

Functionary Mechanism between Demographic Structure and Economic Growth in China Based on Cointegrating Methods

“…Soon after, some scholars distinguished the relationships of population and economy between developed and developing countries. The research of Friedlander and Silver(1967) indicated that the relationship of birth rate and revenue in developed countries was positive while in developing countries it was negative. These early researches only adopted one population variable--birth rate and one economic variable--income to research the relationship of population and economy.…”