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Status, Fertility, Growth And The Great Transition

Author

Listed:
  • FREDERIC TOURNEMAINE

    (School of Economics, RIPED, University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, 126/1 Vibhavadee-Rangsit Road, Dindaeng, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand)

  • CHRISTOPHER TSOUKIS

    (Economics, LMBS, London Metropolitan University, 84 Moorgate, London, EC2M 6SQ, UK)

Abstract

We develop an overlapping generation model to examine how the relationship between status concerns, fertility and education affect growth performances. Results are threefold. First, we show that stronger status motives heighten the desire of parents to have fewer but better educated children, which may foster economic development. Second, the government should sometimes postpone the introduction of an economic policy in order to maintain the process of economic development, although such a policy aims to implement the social optimum. Third, status can alter the dynamic path of the economy and help to explain the facts about fertility during the great transition.

Suggested Citation

  • Frederic Tournemaine & Christopher Tsoukis, 2010. "Status, Fertility, Growth And The Great Transition," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 55(03), pages 553-574.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:serxxx:v:55:y:2010:i:03:n:s0217590810003894
    DOI: 10.1142/S0217590810003894
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    Cited by:

    1. Koji Yasuda & Tomoko Kinugasa & Shigeyuki Hamori, 2019. "An Empirical Analysis Of Marital Status In Japan," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 64(03), pages 773-798, June.
    2. Allen, Jeffrey & Chakraborty, Shankha, 2022. "Inequality and the Ability to Aspire," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 264-283.
    3. Frederic Tournemaine & Christopher Tsoukis, 2018. "The Great Transition: Implications From Environmental Policy For The Quality–Quantity Trade-Off In Children-Rearing," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 63(05), pages 1155-1174, December.
    4. Frederic Tournemaine & Pongsak Luangaram, 2012. "R&D, human capital, fertility, and growth," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 25(3), pages 923-953, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Social status; fertility; education; economic policy; D31; O41;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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