Study: “Fertility, Female Labor Force Participation, and the Demographic Dividend”
PI(s): Bloom, David
Co-PI(s): Canning, David; Fink, Günther; Finlay, Jocelyn E.
Affiliation(s): University of Michigan
Institutional Partner(s): HF Grant
Project Dates:
Start: 2008
End: 2011
Data Source(s): Panel Data
Methods: IV Analysis (IV)
Geographic Location(s): Cross-Country Analysis

Description:
This research estimates the effect of fertility on female labor force participation in a panel of countries using abortion legislation as an instrument for fertility. Findings show that removing legal restrictions on abortion significantly reduces fertility and estimate that, on average, a birth reduces a woman’s labor supply by almost two years during her reproductive life. These results imply that behavioral change, in the form of increased female labor supply, contributes significantly to economic growth during the demographic transition when fertility declines.

Research Outputs:

Bloom, David E., Canning, David, Fink, Günther & Finlay, Jocelyn E. (2007). Realizing the demographic dividend: Is Africa any different? (Program on the Global Demography of Aging Working Paper No. 23).

Bloom, David E., Canning, David, Fink, Günther & Finlay, Jocelyn E. (2009). Fertility, Female Labor Force Participation, and the Demographic Dividend. Journal of Economic Growth, 14(2), 79-101. DOI: 10.1007/s10887-009-9039-9

Bloom, David E., Canning, David, Fink, Günther & Finlay, Jocelyn E. (2010). Fertility, the Demographic Dividend, and Economic Growth.

Bloom, David E., Canning, David, Fink, Günther & Finlay, Jocelyn E. (2012). Microeconomic Foundations of the Demographic Dividend (Program on the Global Demography of Aging Working Paper No. 93).