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Hong Kong wives say no to a big family—educational pairings and fertility in Hong Kong

Author

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  • Skylar BIYANG SUN

    (School of International Development and Cooperation, University of International Business and Economics)

  • Xiaohang ZHAO

    (National Institute of Social Development, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)

Abstract

We used the 2016 Hong Kong Census data and the diagonal reference model to investigate the effects of partners' educational pairings on fertility in Hong Kong. Our findings suggest a negative relationship between couples' educational achievements and their fertility. Moreover, males' educational attainment is more consequential of whether having children or not and both males' and females' educational attainments are determinants of the number of children to raise. In addition, the more educated a wife is relative to her husband, the less likely the couple is to have children. Once these educationally hypogamous couples have at least one child, they tend to have fewer children than their homogamous counterparts. By contrast, couples with a relatively more educated male are more likely to have children and tend to rear more children than those in educationally homogamous marriages.

Suggested Citation

  • Skylar BIYANG SUN & Xiaohang ZHAO, 2025. "Hong Kong wives say no to a big family—educational pairings and fertility in Hong Kong," JODE - Journal of Demographic Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 91(1), pages 82-118, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:ctl:louvde:v:91:y:2025:i:1:p:82-118
    DOI: 10.1017/dem.2022.17
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Diagonal reference model; Educational pairing; Fertilty; Hong Kong;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N35 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Asia including Middle East
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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