Fertility in the absence of self-control
Journal article: This paper studies the quantity-quality trade-off model of fertility, under the assumption of hyperbolic discounting. It shows that the lack of self-control may play a different role in a developed economy and in a developing one. In the first case, characterized by a positive investment in quality, the lack of self-control may tend to reduce fertility. In the second case, it is possible that the lack of self-control leads to both no investment in quality and a higher fertility rate. It is also proved that if parents cannot commit on their investment in quality, a small change of parameters may lead to a jump in fertility and education.
Author(s)
Bertrand Wigniolle
Journal
- Mathematical Social Sciences
Date of publication
- 2013
Keywords JEL
Keywords
- Endogenous fertility
- Quasi-hyperbolic discounting
Pages
- 71-86
URL of the HAL notice
Version
- 1