Television and fertility: evidence from a natural experiment

Peter Bönisch and Walter Hyll ()
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Peter Bönisch: Compass Lexecon Berlin
Walter Hyll: University for Continuing Education Krems

Empirical Economics, 2023, vol. 64, issue 3, No 1, 1025-1066

Abstract: Abstract In this paper, we study the effect of television exposure on fertility. We exploit a natural experiment that took place in Germany after WWII. For topographical reasons, Western TV programs, which promoted one/no child families, could not be received in certain parts of East Germany. We find robust evidence that access to West German TV results in lower fertility. This conclusion is robust to alternative model specifications and different data sets. Using individual level information on TV consumption, we employ IV techniques to estimate the direct effect of Western TV consumption on fertility. By using aggregate level fertility data, we furthermore show the robustness of our analysis in a difference-in-difference setting. Our results suggest that individual fertility decisions are affected by role models or information about other ways of life promoted by media.

Keywords: Natural experiment; TV consumption; Fertility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C26 D12 J13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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DOI: 10.1007/s00181-022-02278-6

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