Soap Operas and Fertility: Evidence from Brazil

Eliana La Ferrara, Alberto Chong and Suzanne Duryea

American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 2012, vol. 4, issue 4, 1-31

Abstract: We estimate the effect of television on fertility in Brazil, where soap operas portray small families. We exploit differences in the timing of entry into different markets of Globo, the main novela producer. Women living in areas covered by Globo have significantly lower fertility. The effect is strongest for women of lower socioeconomic status and in the central and late phases of fertility, consistent with stopping behavior. The result does not appear to be driven by selection in Globo entry. We provide evidence that novelas, and not just television, affected individual choices, based on children's naming patterns and novela content. (JEL J13, J16, L82, O15, Z13)

JEL-codes: J13 J16 L82 O15 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
Note: DOI: 10.1257/app.4.4.1
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (588)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Soap Operas and Fertility: Evidence from Brazil (2008)
Working Paper: Soap Operas and Fertility: Evidence from Brazil (2008)
Working Paper: Soap Operas and Fertility: Evidence from Brazil (2008)
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