Sons as widowhood insurance: Evidence from Senegal

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Lambert, Sylvie; Rossi, Pauline
• 署名单位: INRAE; Paris School of Economics; Paris School of Economics; Institut Polytechnique de Paris; ENSAE Paris
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0304-3878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2016.01.004
• 发表日期: 2016
• 页码: 113-127
• 关键词: Intra-household insurance; GENDER; fertility; HEALTH; Senegal

摘要

Exploiting original data from a Senegalese household survey, we provide evidence that fertility choices are partly driven by women's needs for widowhood insurance. We use a duration model of birth intervals to show that women most at risk in case of widowhood intensify their fertility, shortening birth spacing, until they get a son. Insurance through sons might entail substantial health costs since short birth spacing raises maternal and infant mortality rates. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.