Birth and Fertility during War: Afghanistan from 2007 to 2010

Parlow, Anton (2016): Birth and Fertility during War: Afghanistan from 2007 to 2010.

Abstract

Using spatial variations in the experience of war-related violence between 2007 and 2010 in Afghanistan, I estimate that birth rates are about eight percent higher for households living in provinces affected by violence the most, thus, an insurance effect may be present. The results remain robust after accounting for migration as well as community level fixed effects and are more pronounced for the poorest households but reverse in sign for the poor and middle class households. Additionally, I find that stillbirths are more likely and more women are currently pregnant in these provinces. These two fertility outcomes are possible channels explaining increased birth rates in the provinces affected the most by violence.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Armed Conflicts, Birth Rates, Fertility
• Subjects: I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health > I12 - Health Behavior; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O12 - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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