Family size and schooling in sub-Saharan Africa: testing the quantity-quality trade-off

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Population Economics
Year: 2019
Volume: 32
Issue: 4
Pages: 1353-1399

Authors (2)

Sahawal Alidou (not in RePEc) Marijke Verpoorten (Universiteit Antwerpen)

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Abstract Many family planning programs are based on the idea that small families lead to improved development outcomes, such as more schooling for children. Because of endogeneity issues, this idea is however difficult to verify. A handful of studies have made use of twin birth to deal with the endogeneity of family size. We do so for sub-Saharan African countries. In a compilation of 86 survey rounds from 34 countries, we exploit the birth of twins to study the effect of a quasi-exogenous increase in family size on the schooling of children at the first, second and third birth order. Our findings do not support the generally assumed negative effect of family size on schooling.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:spr:jopoec:v:32:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s00148-019-00730-z
Journal Field
Growth
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29