Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/250417 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 14756
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Fertility has a strong biological component generally ignored by economists. Using the UK Biobank, we analyze the extent to which genes, proxied by polygenic scores, and the environment, proxied by early exposure to the contraceptive pill diffusion, affect age at first sexual intercourse, age at first birth, completed family size, and childlessness. Both genes and environment exert substantial influences on all outcomes. The anticipation of sexual debut and the postponement of motherhood led by the diffusion of the pill are magnified by gene-environment interactions, while the decline in family size and the rise in childlessness associated with female emancipation are attenuated by gene-environment effects. The nature-nurture interplay becomes stronger in more egalitarian environments that empower women, allowing genes to express themselves more fully. These conclusions are confirmed by heterogenous effects across the distributions of genetic susceptibilities and exposure to environmental risks, sister fixed effects models, mother-daughter comparisons, and counterfactual simulations.
Subjects: 
fertility
genetics
polygenic score
contraceptive pill
nature versus nurture
social norms
JEL: 
D10
I14
I15
J01
J13
J16
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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