Sons as widowhood insurance: Evidence from Senegal

Sylvie Lambert; Pauline Rossi

doi:10.1016/j.jdeveco.2016.01.004

Sons as widowhood insurance: Evidence from Senegal

Sylvie Lambert
, Pauline Rossi

France and IZA
ENSAE

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Exploiting original data from a Senegalese household survey, we provide evidence that fertility choices are partly driven by women's needs for widowhood insurance. We use a duration model of birth intervals to show that women most at risk in case of widowhood intensify their fertility, shortening birth spacing, until they get a son. Insurance through sons might entail substantial health costs since short birth spacing raises maternal and infant mortality rates.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	113-127
Number of pages	15
Journal	Journal of Development Economics
Volume	120
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2016.01.004
Publication status	Published - 1 May 2016
Externally published	Yes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Fertility
Gender
Health
Intra-household insurance
Senegal

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jdeveco.2016.01.004

Cite this

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title = "Sons as widowhood insurance: Evidence from Senegal",

abstract = "Exploiting original data from a Senegalese household survey, we provide evidence that fertility choices are partly driven by women's needs for widowhood insurance. We use a duration model of birth intervals to show that women most at risk in case of widowhood intensify their fertility, shortening birth spacing, until they get a son. Insurance through sons might entail substantial health costs since short birth spacing raises maternal and infant mortality rates.",

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AU - Rossi, Pauline

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AB - Exploiting original data from a Senegalese household survey, we provide evidence that fertility choices are partly driven by women's needs for widowhood insurance. We use a duration model of birth intervals to show that women most at risk in case of widowhood intensify their fertility, shortening birth spacing, until they get a son. Insurance through sons might entail substantial health costs since short birth spacing raises maternal and infant mortality rates.

KW - Fertility

KW - Gender

KW - Health

KW - Intra-household insurance

KW - Senegal

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84958528817

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DO - 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2016.01.004

M3 - Article

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VL - 120

SP - 113

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JO - Journal of Development Economics

JF - Journal of Development Economics

ER -

Sons as widowhood insurance: Evidence from Senegal

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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