Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/301341 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2024
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 11215
Publisher: 
CESifo GmbH, Munich
Abstract: 
This paper presents novel causal evidence on the effects of pro-natalist cash transfers on fertility, sex ratio at birth, and infant health. In the context of South Korea, I exploit rich spatial and temporal variation in cash transfers provided to families with newborn babies and the universe of birth-, death-, and migrant-registry records. I find that the total fertility rate in 2015 would have been 4.7% lower without the cash transfers. Surprisingly, the cash transfers had an unintended consequence of correcting the unnaturally male-skewed sex ratio at birth. The cash transfers led to reductions in gestational age and birth weight, but no change in early-life mortality. A rich heterogeneity analysis suggests that negative selection into childbearing may explain the health effects and that cash transfers may increase birth weight for low-income families.
Subjects: 
pro-natalist policies
cash transfer
fertility
infant health
sex ratio at birth
son preference
JEL: 
H40
H75
I50
J13
J16
J18
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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