Trade Shocks, Fertility, and Marital Behavior

Arbeitspapier

Using longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, we analyze the effects of exposure to trade on the fertility and marital behavior of German workers. We find that individuals working in sectors that were more affected by import competition from Eastern Europe and suffered worse labor market outcomes were less likely to have children. In contrast, workers in sectors that benefited from increased exports had better employment prospects and higher fertility. These effects are driven by low-educated and married men, and reflect changes in the likelihood of having any child (extensive margin). While among workers exposed to import competition there is evidence of some fertility postponement, we find a significant reduction of completed fertility. There is instead little evidence of any significant effect on marital behavior.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 14224

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Empirical Studies of Trade ; Trade and Labor Market Interactions ; Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
• Subject: international trade ; labor market outcomes ; fertility ; marriage

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Giuntella, Osea ; Rotunno, Lorenzo ; Stella, Luca
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2021

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/236255
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:45 AM CET