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Preventing a new baby: Impact of air pollution on fertility intention

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  • Zhang, Guanglai
  • Yu, Yanni

Abstract

This study is the first to investigate the causal link between air pollution and fertility intentions in China, using data from the 2016 China Labor-Force Dynamic Survey to assess the fertility intentions of different sexes for differentiated groups of respondents. The findings show significant negative effects of air pollution on immediate fertility intentions. Specifically, a one standard deviation increase in the daily Air Quality Index in the past three months decreased the immediate fertility intention of interviewees by 0.7527 standard deviations. Moreover, the study reveals that young women who live in more polluted areas show a higher reduction in fertility intention than their counterparts. The results illustrate that air pollution is a key contributor to the son preference and that there is still a marked preference for sons over daughters in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Guanglai & Yu, Yanni, 2023. "Preventing a new baby: Impact of air pollution on fertility intention," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:asieco:v:89:y:2023:i:c:s1049007823000866
    DOI: 10.1016/j.asieco.2023.101666
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Guanglai & Zhang, Ning, 2024. "Environmental regulation and worker earnings: Evidence from city-level air quality standards in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Air pollution; Fertility intention; Son preference;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling

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