American Economic Review
ISSN 0002-8282 (Print) | ISSN 1944-7981 (Online)
Diffusion of Reproductive Health Behavior through International Migration: Effects on Origin-Country Fertility
American Economic Review
(pp. 3597–3637)
Abstract
International migrants may facilitate the transmission of ideas across countries. We examine the impact of migrant exposure to reproductive health policies on origin-country fertility in the Philippines. We exploit temporal variation in destination-country reproductive health policies combined with spatial variation across Philippine provinces in their migration intensity and historical composition of migrant destinations. Migrant exposure to more liberalized reproductive health policies reduces origin-community fertility. This reduction is driven by increased adoption of modern contraceptives. Visible policy changes, such as commercial advertising of contraceptives, lead to this change in behavior. Firmly established family planning values moderate the fertility response.Citation
Godlonton, Susan, and Caroline Theoharides. 2025. "Diffusion of Reproductive Health Behavior through International Migration: Effects on Origin-Country Fertility." American Economic Review 115 (10): 3597–3637. DOI: 10.1257/aer.20231286Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D91 Micro-Based Behavioral Economics: Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
- F22 International Migration
- I18 Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
- J13 Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
- O15 Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
- O18 Economic Development: Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
- Z13 Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification