On the structural value of children and its implication on intended fertility in Bulgaria

Christoph Bühler
Additional contact information
Christoph Bühler: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover

Demographic Research, 2008, vol. 18, issue 20, 569-610

Abstract: Personal networks are receiving increasing recognition as structural determinants of fertility. However, the network perspective also helps to explain personal motivations for having children. Using theories of interpersonal exchange, social capital, and the value of children, it is argued in this article that children can substantively improve their parents’ social networks. Individuals perceive this potential advantageous development as a structural benefit and consider this value in their reproductive decisions. This argument is empirically explored with data from Bulgaria, collected in 2002. The results document the presence of structural evaluations among subjectively perceived child-related benefits. Moreover, structural evaluations matter for the reproductive decision-making of Bulgarian citizens. Women’s fertility intentions are supported by the prospect that a child will bring their parents and relatives closer or will improve their security at old age. Males’ intentions are closely associated with the expectation that a child will provide support when they are old.

Keywords: fertility; social networks; Bulgaria; value of children; social capital; fertility intentions; decision-making; costs and benefits; interpersonal exchange (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J1 Z0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol18/20/18-20.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:dem:demres:v:18:y:2008:i:20

DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2008.18.20

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Demographic Research from Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Editorial Office ().