The Illusion of Stable Preferences over Major Life Decisions / Maximilian W. Mueller, Joan Hamory Hicks, Jennifer Johnson-Hanks, Edward Miguel.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mueller, Maximilian W.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Hicks, Joan Hamory.

Johnson-Hanks, Jennifer.

Miguel, Edward.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w25844.

NBER working paper series no. w25844

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2019.

Summary:

We examine the stability of preferences over time using panel data from Kenya on fertility intentions, realizations, and recall of intentions. We find that desired fertility is very unstable, but that most people perceive their desires to be stable. Under hypothetical scenarios, few expect their desired fertility to increase over time. Moreover, when asked to recall past intentions, most respondents report previously wanting exactly as many children as they desire today. Biased recall of preferences over a major life decision could have important implications for measuring excess fertility, the evolution of norms, and the perceived need for family planning programs.

Notes:

Print version record

May 2019.