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Title: Do higher rents discourage fertility? Evidence from U.S. cities, 1940-2000

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2009

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Abstract: This paper documents the existence of a negative cross-sectional correlation between the price of livingspace as measured by rent per room and fertility using U.S. Census data over the period 19402000, the effectstrengthening from 1940 to 1970 and weakening thereafter. The negative correlation does not merely reflectthe tendency of larger families to locate within less-expensive areas of a given metropolitan area. Our studyfocuses on younger households, but analysis of completed fertility among older households reinforces thefindings for younger households. Estimates for 36 CMSAs using the American Housing Survey, which permitus to construct per square-foot measures of the price of living space, indicate that our findings are not merelyan artifact of larger families occupying houses with more rooms. Durbin-Wu-Hausman tests reveal littleevidence of endogeneity bias.

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Authors: Simon, Curtis J.; Tamura, Robert

Periodical (Full): Regional Science and Urban Economics

Issue: 1

Volume: 39

Pages: 33-42

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Fertility and Mortality, Migration and Immigration, Other

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