How much do norms matter for quantity and quality of children?

Zainab Iftikhar

World Development, 2025, vol. 195, issue C

Abstract: This paper quantifies the effect of social norms, child mortality, and women’s education on fertility (quantity) and children’s education (quality) in Pakistan. Norms explain 14% of the variation in quantity and 9% of the variation in quality among the households that differ in the women’s socio-economic background. In comparison, child mortality explains 33% and 16% of the difference in quantity and quality, respectively. Variations in women’s education explain the rest. The quantity–quality trade-off weakens in the absence of norms and child mortality. Norms and child mortality also affect the cost of education and population policies.

Keywords: Fertility norms; Quantity–quality trade-off; Opportunity cost; Child mortality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:195:y:2025:i:c:s0305750x25001640

DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2025.107079

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