Why is fertility rising in developed economies? The dynamics of skill composition, fertility and economic growth

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

This paper develops an overlapping generations model that incorporates choice of occupation (education), fertility and how to rear children. We examine the dynamic interplay between occupational structure, economic growth and fertility as an economy moves through two phases distinguished by the skill composition of the workforce. The model exhibits the possibility of multiple equilbria and dynamic behaviour in the second phase that is consistent with a unit elastic version of Diamond (1965). The presence of multiple equilbria explains the observation that while fertility has decreased with per capita income in some countries, per capita income remains low and fertility high in others. By introducing child rearing goods and services, as an alternative to parental time, we explain the recent fertility upturn witnessed in some developed economies.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the Australian Conference of Economists 2010
EditorsLance Fisher
Place of PublicationAustralia
PublisherEconomic Society of Australia
Pages28
Editionpeer reviewed
Publication statusPublished - 2010
EventAustralian Conference of Economists 2010 - Sydney Australia, Australia
Duration: 1 Jan 2010 → …

Conference

ConferenceAustralian Conference of Economists 2010
Country/TerritoryAustralia
Period1/01/10 → …
OtherSeptember 27-29 2010

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Why is fertility rising in developed economies? The dynamics of skill composition, fertility and economic growth'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this