CONTRACEPTION AND DEVELOPMENT: A UNIFIED GROWTH THEORY

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Strulik, Holger
• 署名单位: University of Gottingen
• 刊物名称: INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0020-6598
• DOI: 10.1111/iere.12227
• 发表日期: 2017
• 页码: 561-584
• 关键词: fertility decline; MODEL; mortality; sex; TRANSITION; happiness; CHILDREN; england; access; HEALTH

摘要

This study investigates the interaction of the use of modern contraceptives, fertility, education, and long-run growth. It develops an economic model that takes into account that sexual intercourse is utility enhancing and that birth control by modern contraceptives is more efficient but more costly than traditional methods. The study shows how a traditional economy, in which modern contraceptives are not used, gradually converges toward a high growth regime, in which modern contraceptives are used. Lower prices or higher efficacy of contraceptives are conducive to an earlier onset of the fertility transition and a quicker takeoff to modern growth.