Family policies in the context of low fertility and social structure

Thomas Fent, Alexia Fürnkranz-Prskawetz and Belinda Aparicio Diaz
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Belinda Aparicio Diaz: Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften

Demographic Research, 2013, vol. 29, issue 37, 963-998

Abstract: Objective: In this paper we investigate the effectiveness of family policies in the context of the social structure of a population. Methods: We use an agent-based model to analyse the impact of policies on individual fertility decisions and on fertility at the aggregate level. The crucial features of our model are the interactions between family policies and social structure, the agents’ heterogeneity, and the structure and influence of the social network. This modelling framework allows us to disentangle the direct effect (the alleviation of resource constraints) from the indirect effect (the diffusion of fertility intentions via social ties) of family policies. Results: Our results indicate that family policies have a positive and significant impact on fertility. In addition, the specific characteristics of the social network and social effects do not only relate to fertility, but also influence the effectiveness of family policies. Conclusions: Family policies can only be successful if they are designed to take into account the characteristics of the society in which they are implemented.

Keywords: family policy; social networks; low fertility; social structures; agent-based computational demography; social effects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J1 Z0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Family Policies in the Context of Low Fertility and Social Structure (2010)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:dem:demres:v:29:y:2013:i:37

DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2013.29.37

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