Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/331679 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 18115
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
In sub-Saharan Africa, the gap in fertility preferences between men and women may influence household fertility outcomes as men usually desire more children and have more intra-household bargaining power. We estimate the effect of an informational family planning program that randomizes the inclusion of husbands on fertility preferences (desired additional children) in rural Tanzania. Surprisingly, husbands who participated in joint family planning consultations increased their desired fertility, and their wives responded by also increasing their desired number of additional children, converging to his larger preferences. In contrast, women in private family planning consultations (without their husbands) reduced their fertility desires, while their husbands' preferences remained unchanged. We provide evidence that the increase in women's fertility preferences as a result of the joint consultations is related to polygamy. Women in polygamous marriages increase their demand for children substantially, likely as a strategic response to hearing their husbands' stated preferences during the joint consultations.
Subjects: 
intra-household bargaining
fertility
randomized experiment
fertility preferences
JEL: 
D13
J13
O15
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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