Causal Analysis of Policy Effects on Fertility

Arbeitspapier

This chapter reviews the literature on the causal effects of policies on fertility. It focuses on evidence from experiments and quasi-experiments in low fertility contexts, including studies from Europe, Northern America, Oceania and Asia. Making no a priori restrictions on policy type, the review encompasses evaluations of parental leave, childcare, health insurance, and financial incentives such as child transfers. Childcare expansions increase completed fertility. Financial incentives had positive effects on fertility across contexts, both in the short and long run. Expansions of parental leave rights in Central Europe, and introduction of parental leave in the U.S., also had positive effects. Distributional effects of these policies are very different, with parental leave compensation benefiting high-earning couples, while expansions of child care programs have potential to reduce social inequalities.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: CESifo Working Paper ; No. 10690

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth ; Demographic Economics: Public Policy ; National Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs ; Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
• Subject: fertility ; parental leave ; cash transfers ; childcare ; healthcare ; public policy ; causal effect

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Hart, Rannveig Kaldager ; Bergsvik, Janna ; Fauske, Agnes ; Kim, Wookun
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo)
• (where): Munich
• (when): 2023

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/282378
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:45 AM CET