Fertility and the Plough / Alberto Alesina, Paola Giuliano, Nathan Nunn.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Alesina, Alberto.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Giuliano, Paola.

Nunn, Nathan.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w16718.

NBER working paper series no. w16718

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2011.

Summary:

The current study finds that societies which historically engaged in plough agriculture today have lower fertility. We argue, and provide ethnographic evidence, that the finding is explained by the fact that with plough agriculture, children, like women, are relatively less useful in the field. The plough requires strength and eliminates the need for weeding, a task particularly suitable for women and children. This in turn generates a preference for fewer children, lowering fertility.

Notes:

Print version record

January 2011.