Television role models and fertility: Evidence from a natural experiment

Arbeitspapier

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. Using an IV approach, we find robust evidence that watching West German TV results in lower fertility. This conclusion is robust to alternative model specifications and data sets. Our results imply that individual fertility decisions are affected by role models or information about other ways of life promoted by media.

Angaben zum Objekt

• Sprache: Englisch

Verweise und Beziehungen

• Erschienen in: Series: SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research ; No. 752

Klassifikation und Themen

• Klassifikation: Wirtschaft ; Single Equation Models: Single Variables: Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation ; Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis ; Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth ; Entertainment; Media
• Thema: Natural experiment ; TV consumption ; Fertility

Beteiligte, Orts- und Zeitangaben

• Ereignis: Geistige Schöpfung
• (wer): Bönisch, Peter ; Hyll, Walter
• Ereignis: Veröffentlichung
• (wer): Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW)
• (wo): Berlin
• (wann): 2015

Weitere Informationen

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/110259
• Letzte Aktualisierung: 10.03.2025, 11:42 MEZ