Malnutrition and Fertility: Evidence from Vietnam

Eric T Stuen; Nam Hoang; Van Hoang

Malnutrition and Fertility: Evidence from Vietnam

Eric T Stuen
, Nam Hoang
, Van Hoang

Economics

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

Abstract

Economic theory regarding household fertility decisions has long recognized precautionary demand for children, such that households in a high-mortality environment respond to the risk of children not surviving to adulthood by increasing their family size. We test whether such an effect exists in response to nutrient deficiencies. Using survey data on a sample of 5,966 households in Vietnam, we find that a 10% increase in calorie availability decreases the likelihood that they had a child by 0.8%. Protein, potassium and thiamin also have significant effects. These findings provide initial evidence of an economic link between nutrition and fertility.

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 2011
Event	WEAI Annual Conference 2011: 86th Annual Western Economic Association International Conference - San Diego, United States of America Duration: 29 Jun 2011 → 3 Jul 2011

Conference

Conference	WEAI Annual Conference 2011: 86th Annual Western Economic Association International Conference
City	San Diego, United States of America
Period	29/06/11 → 3/07/11

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 2 Zero Hunger

Keywords

Health Economics
Economic Development and Growth

Access to Document

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/9921

Handle.net

Persistent link

Cite this

@conference{f8f1564c297a4f5ab55118bb5892ec4e,

title = "Malnutrition and Fertility: Evidence from Vietnam",

abstract = "Economic theory regarding household fertility decisions has long recognized precautionary demand for children, such that households in a high-mortality environment respond to the risk of children not surviving to adulthood by increasing their family size. We test whether such an effect exists in response to nutrient deficiencies. Using survey data on a sample of 5,966 households in Vietnam, we find that a 10\% increase in calorie availability decreases the likelihood that they had a child by 0.8\%. Protein, potassium and thiamin also have significant effects. These findings provide initial evidence of an economic link between nutrition and fertility.",

keywords = "Health Economics, Economic Development and Growth",

author = "Stuen, \{Eric T\} and Nam Hoang and Van Hoang",

year = "2011",

language = "English",

note = "WEAI Annual Conference 2011: 86th Annual Western Economic Association International Conference ; Conference date: 29-06-2011 Through 03-07-2011",

}

TY - CONF

T1 - Malnutrition and Fertility

T2 - WEAI Annual Conference 2011: 86th Annual Western Economic Association International Conference

AU - Stuen, Eric T

AU - Hoang, Nam

AU - Hoang, Van

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - Economic theory regarding household fertility decisions has long recognized precautionary demand for children, such that households in a high-mortality environment respond to the risk of children not surviving to adulthood by increasing their family size. We test whether such an effect exists in response to nutrient deficiencies. Using survey data on a sample of 5,966 households in Vietnam, we find that a 10% increase in calorie availability decreases the likelihood that they had a child by 0.8%. Protein, potassium and thiamin also have significant effects. These findings provide initial evidence of an economic link between nutrition and fertility.

AB - Economic theory regarding household fertility decisions has long recognized precautionary demand for children, such that households in a high-mortality environment respond to the risk of children not surviving to adulthood by increasing their family size. We test whether such an effect exists in response to nutrient deficiencies. Using survey data on a sample of 5,966 households in Vietnam, we find that a 10% increase in calorie availability decreases the likelihood that they had a child by 0.8%. Protein, potassium and thiamin also have significant effects. These findings provide initial evidence of an economic link between nutrition and fertility.

KW - Health Economics

KW - Economic Development and Growth

M3 - Paper

Y2 - 29 June 2011 through 3 July 2011

ER -

Malnutrition and Fertility: Evidence from Vietnam

Abstract

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Handle.net

Fingerprint

Cite this