Economics of Childbearing: Trends, Progress, and Challenges
Martha Bailey
No 33970, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc
Abstract:
The neoclassical economics of childbearing turns 65 this year, marking the anniversary of Gary Becker’s foundational article on the subject in 1960. This review article begins with a study of how childbearing has evolved in the United States over the last century, identifying distinctive features of the post-1960 era. Next, the article discusses standard neoclassical models of childbearing and shows how augmenting them with a supply side, which includes access to and information about contraception and abortion, increases their explanatory power. After reviewing recent quasi-experimental research testing this augmented model, the final part of the article reflects upon the implications of the recent transformation in US fertility rates for women and children and suggests fruitful avenues for future research.
JEL-codes: J01 J10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his, nep-hpe and nep-lab
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