Intrahousehold Decision Making and Fertility
Intrahousehold Decision Making and Fertility
This chapter analyzes the implications of modeling fertility choices as outcomes of intrahousehold conflict and bargaining. It argues for a reformulation of fertility theories that are embedded in more realistic theories of household formation and joint decision making within the household. Empirical evidence suggests that disagreement regarding fertility choices is commonplace. In addition to a level difference in the desired fertility of women and men, there is evidence of considerable heterogeneity across households. The data on fertility preferences suggests at least the possibility that within-household disagreement on fertility is an important determinant of fertility outcomes. The chapter also shows how the vast majority of economic models of fertility have been based on a unitary model of the household, where the household is conceived as a single entity with a single utility function.
Keywords: fertility choices, intrahousehold conflict, household formation, heterogeneity, women, men, fertility theories
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