Sons as Widowhood Insurance: Evidence from Senegal
Pré-publication, Document de travail: Exploiting original data from a Senegalese household survey, we provide evidence that fertility choices are partly driven by women's needs for widowhood insurance. We use a duration model of birth intervals to show that women most at risk in case of widowhood intensify their fertility, shortening birth spacing, until they get a son. Insurance through sons might entail substantial health costs since short birth spacing raises maternal and infant mortality rates.
Mots-clés JEL
Mots-clés
- Intra-household insurance
- Gender
- Fertility
- Health
- Senegal
Référence interne
- PSE Working Papers n°2014-05
URL de la notice HAL
Version
- 3