Year: 1989
Author: Zimmermann, Klaus F.
Journal of Contextual Economics – Schmollers Jahrbuch, Vol. 109 (1989), Iss. 3 : pp. 467–483
Abstract
It is shown that there is an old German tradition to analyze fertility decisions in the context of household economics going back to the beginning of the century. Brentano (1909) contains already all key elements of the modern economic theory of the family: rational choice of utility maximizing individuals, time costs of rearing children, quantity-quality effects. Instead of Becker's term quantity, Brentano used 'refinement in the love of children'. Brentano, however, suggested a further hypothesis to explain the negative correlation between fertility and economic development, the increasing variety of goods. It is shown that this is in fact a promising concept.
Journal Article Details
Publisher Name: Global Science Press
Language: Multiple languages
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3790/schm.109.3.467
Journal of Contextual Economics – Schmollers Jahrbuch, Vol. 109 (1989), Iss. 3 : pp. 467–483
Published online: 1989-03
AMS Subject Headings: Duncker & Humblot
Copyright: COPYRIGHT: © Global Science Press
Pages: 17