Household Consequences of High Fertility in Pakistan

摘要

The paper reviews the theory and evidence on the consequences of high fertilityin Pakistan. In addition, several data sets are analyzed to examine the effects of number of children on school participation and labor participation of men, women and children in urban Pakistan. Another data set is utilized to examine the effects of children on savings in urban and rural areas. Results show that the number of children negatively affects schooling of girls, but not boys. Number of boys and girls in the household have differential effects of women's labor participation while female children, but not males, affect adult male's participation. Children 6-15 have negative effects on rural savings, but less effect in urban areas. In general, the effects of high fertility for household's in Pakistan seem more negative than in many countries. This may explain the high proportion of women who say they want no more children. Why so few of these women do use contraceptive is more difficult to explain. (Copyright (c) 1990 The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank.)