Francesco Billari - University of Oxford
Internet and Fertility
Date: 04/14/2016 (Thu)
Time: 3:30pm- 5:00pm
Location: Seminar will be held on-site: Gross Hall - 270
Organizer: Giovanna Merli
Meeting Schedule: Login or email the organizer to schedule a meeting.
All meetings will be held in the same location as the seminar unless otherwise noted.
8:30am - Breakfast, Giovanna Merli
9:30am - Terry Moffitt
10:00am - Javier Romero Haaker
10:30am - Seth Sanders
11:00am - Arun Hendi
11:30am - Jessica Ho
12:00pm - Lunch Emma Zang, Anika Schenck-Fontaine, Maria Laurito
12:30pm - Lunch
1:00pm - Lunch
1:30pm - Eric Qian
2:00pm - Angie O'Rand
2:30pm - Elisa Maffioli
3:00pm - Seminar Prep
3:30pm - Seminar Presentation (3:30pm to 5:00pm)
6.30pm - dinner Four Squares (Billari, Morgan, Entwisle, Mouw, Bollen, Merli,O'Rand, Land )
Additional Comments: The impact of technological change on family and fertility has focused on contraceptives (the pill), household appliances, medical progress. It is important to understand whether digitalization, and the spread of the Internet in particular, has an effect. Earlier evidence points to a potential effect on teenage fertility (and younger age fertility). Here we analyse the how access to high-speed Internet has affected fertility at all ages. We use data drawn from the US Current Population Survey (CPS) and the European Social Survey (ESS). To identify the effect of Internet usage on fertility, we use an instrumental variable strategy which exploits geographical differences in local access to highspeed internet. Our results provide evidence that high-speed internet increases individuals’ propensity to have children and has positive effects on fertility at later ages. The effects are largest among high-skilled married women. Our results are consistent with Internet allowing more flexible work schedules, facilitating work-family balance, and therefore reaching desired family size.