Fertility and the Easterlin hypothesis: an assessment of the literature |
| |
Authors: | Macunovich D J |
| |
Institution: | (1) Maxwell Center for Policy Research, 426 Eggers Hall, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-1020, USA (e-mail: dmacunov@maxwell.syr.edu; Fax (315) 443-1081), US |
| |
Abstract: | Focusing just on the fertility aspects of the Easterlin hypothesis, this paper offers a critical assessment – rather than
just a selective citation – of the extensive fertility literature generated by Easterlin, and a complete inventory of data
and methodologies in seventy-six published analyses. With an equal number of micro- and macro-level analyses using North American
data (twenty-two), the „track record” of the hypothesis is the same in both venues, with fifteen providing significant support
in each case. The literature suggests unequivocal support for the relativity of the income concept in fertility, but is less
clear regarding the source(s) of differences in material aspirations, and suggests that the observed relationship between
fertility and cohort size has varied across countries and time periods due to the effects of additional factors not included
in most models.
Received: 16 July 1996 / Accepted: 26 September 1997 |
| |
Keywords: | JEL classification: J11 J13 N3 |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|