The quantity and quality of children: A semi-parametric Bayesian IV approach

Arbeitspapier

Prior empirical research on the theoretically proposed interaction between the quantity and the quality of children builds on exogenous variation in family size due to twin births and focuses on human capital outcomes. The typical finding can be described as a statistically nonsignificant two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimate, with substantial standard errors. We regard these conclusions of no empirical support for the quantity-quality trade-off as premature and, therefore, extend the empirical approach in two ways. First, we add health as an additional outcome dimension. Second, we apply a semi-parametric Bayesian IV approach for econometric inference. Our estimation results substantiate the finding of a zero effect: we provide estimates with an increased precision by a factor of approximately twenty-three, for a broader set of outcomes.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Working Paper ; No. 1403

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth ; Single Equation Models: Single Variables: Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation ; Bayesian Analysis: General ; Education and Research Institutions: General ; Demand and Supply of Labor: General ; Health: General
• Subject: quantity-quality model of fertility ; family size ; human capital ; health ; semi-parametric Bayesian IV approach

Contributors, Location and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Frühwirth-Schnatter, Sylvia ; Halla, Martin ; Posekany, Alexandra ; Pruckner, Gerald J. ; Schober, Thomas
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Johannes Kepler University of Linz, Department of Economics
• (where): Linz
• (when): 2014

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/97432
• Last update: 20.09.2024, 8:23 AM CEST