Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/51997 
Year of Publication: 
2011
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 5502
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
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.
Subjects: 
fertility
plough
cultural norms
JEL: 
J13
O13
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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