Causal Analysis of Policy Effects on Fertility

Rannveig Hart (), Janna Bergsvik (), Anges Fuaske () and Wookun Kim ()
Additional contact information
Rannveig Hart: Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Janna Bergsvik: Statistics Norway
Anges Fuaske: University of Oslo
Wookun Kim: Southern Methodist University

No 2309, Departmental Working Papers from Southern Methodist University, Department of Economics

Abstract: This chapter reviews the literature on the causal effects of policies on fertility. It focuses on evidence from experiments and quasi-experiments in low fertility contexts, including studies from Europe, Northern America, Oceania, and Asia. Making no a priori restrictions on policy type, the review encompasses evaluations of parental leave, childcare, health insurance, and financial incentives such as child transfers. Childcare expansions increase completed fertility. Financial incentives had positive effects on fertility across contexts, both in the short and long run. Expansions of parental leave rights in Central Europe and the introduction of parental leave in the U.S. also had positive effects. The distributional effects of these policies are very different, with parental leave compensation benefiting high-earning couples, while expansions of childcare programs had potential to reduce social inequalities.

Keywords: pro-natalist policies; cash transfer; parental leave; childcare; healthcare; fertility. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H40 H75 J13 J16 J18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem, nep-ger, nep-lab and nep-sea
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