| dc.description.abstract | The main objective of this study was to identify
the economic determinants of household fertility
behaviour which was analysed ln a consumer-theoretic
frame-work. Utilizing a static cross-sectional model,
a household fertility equation was developed from
which the direction, relative magnitude and statistical
significance of the influence of specific economic
variables on household fertility was estimated.
The variables considered are: the opportunity
cost of time (i.e. wages), income generating assets,
market determined income, and the level of socioeconomic
development.
Three main hypotheses were tested: (1) the level
of husband's education varies directly with the
demand for children while the level of mother's
education varies inversely with the demand for
children, (2) different categories of a household's
wealth (i.e. land, livestock, and other non-human
income-generating assets) exert differential effects
on household demand for children, and (3) income
accruing to human capital has a negative effect on the
demand for children while income derived from physical
and social capital exert positive effects.
Multiple regression technique was utilized to
analyse cross-sectional primary data which was
collected from rural households in Sengani and Nguluni
sub-locations of Machakos District and Nairage
Enkare sub-location of Narok District. The sample
included 89 households, 80 households and 57 households
from Sengani, Nguluni and Nairage Enkare,
respectively.
Empirical evidence suggested that income derived
from human capital has a larger price of time effect
and a smaller income effect on the demand for children
than income derived from non-human capital. Thus,
returns to human capital will tend to reduce ;fertility
while returns to non-human capital will tend to increase
it. Furthermore, we found that the impact of wife's
schooling on fertility was negative and statistically
significant; the impact of husband's schooling was positive;
infant and child mortality was found to exert the largest positive
impact on household fertility; landholding exerted
negative effect; other assets exert positive effects;
and socio-economic development affects fertility
negatively.
Tour policy regimes emerged from the findings of
this study. These policies concern: (1) income generation
(2) wages (3) mortality and the reproductive
span and (4) socio-economic development. | en |
