Life after loss: the causal effect of parental death on daughters' fertility
In: Journal of population economics: international research on the economics of population, household, and human resources, Band 38, Heft 1
ISSN: 1432-1475
Abstract
Using Austrian administrative data, this study examines the causal effect of parental death on daughters' fertility through a difference-in-differences approach. The findings indicate that parental death leads to quantitatively insignificant changes in the number of children and the probability of childlessness. Complementary analyses show no substantial effects on labor market participation, residential mobility, or long-term mental health. The evidence suggests that fertility decisions remain largely unaffected by the logistical and emotional challenges of parental loss, highlighting the resilience of reproductive choices to external life shocks.