Analysis of Economic Determinants of Fertility in Iran: A Multilevel Approach

International Journal of Health Policy & Management (IJHPM), Vol. 3, p. 135, 2014, DOI: 10.15171/ijhpm.2014.78

10 Pages Posted: 29 Aug 2014

See all articles by Maryam Moeeni

Maryam Moeeni

Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Abolghasem Pourreza

Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Fatemeh Torabi

University of Tehran

Hassan Heydari

Tarbiat Modares University

Mahmood Mahmoudi

Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Date Written: August 22, 2014

Abstract

Background: During the last three decades, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in Iran has fallen considerably; from 6.5 per woman in 1983 to 1.89 in 2010. This paper analyzes the extent to which economic determinants at the micro and macro levels are associated with the number of children in Iranian households. Methods: Household data from the 2010 Household Expenditure and Income Survey (HEIS) is linked to provincial data from the 2010 Iran Multiple-Indicator Demographic and Health Survey (IrMIDHS), the National Census of Population and Housing conducted in 1986, 1996, 2006 and 2011, and the 1985-2010 Iran statistical year books. Fertility is measured as the number of children in each household. A random intercept multilevel Poisson regression function is specified based on a collective model of intra-household bargaining power to investigate potential determinants of the number of children in Iranian households. Results: Ceteris paribus (other things being equal), probability of having more children drops significantly as either real per capita educational expenditure or real total expenditure of each household increase. Both the low- and the high-income households show probabilities of having more children compared to the middle-income households. Living in provinces with either higher average amount of value added of manufacturing establishments or lower average rate of house rent is associated to higher probability of having larger number of children. Higher levels of gender gap indices, resulting in household’s wife’s limited power over household decision-making, positively affect the probability of having more children. Conclusion: Economic determinants at the micro and macro levels, distribution of intra-household bargaining power between spouses and demographic covariates determined fertility behavior of Iranian households.

Keywords: Fertility; Multilevel Analysis; Intra-Household Bargaining Power; Economic Determinants; Iran

Suggested Citation

Moeeni, Maryam and Pourreza, Abolghasem and Torabi, Fatemeh and Heydari, Hassan and Mahmoudi, Mahmood, Analysis of Economic Determinants of Fertility in Iran: A Multilevel Approach (August 22, 2014). International Journal of Health Policy & Management (IJHPM), Vol. 3, p. 135, 2014, DOI: 10.15171/ijhpm.2014.78, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2488340

Maryam Moeeni

Tehran University of Medical Sciences ( email )

Number 21, Dameshg St.
Vali-e Asr Ave.
Tehran, 14195
Iran

Abolghasem Pourreza (Contact Author)

Tehran University of Medical Sciences ( email )

Number 21, Dameshg St.
Vali-e Asr Ave.
Tehran, 14195
Iran

Fatemeh Torabi

University of Tehran ( email )

Amirabad e shomali, kuye daneshgah e Tehran
Tehran, UT Tehran 5433174616
Iran

Hassan Heydari

Tarbiat Modares University ( email )

Jalal Ale Ahmad Highway
Tehran, Tehran 14115-111
Iran

Mahmood Mahmoudi

Tehran University of Medical Sciences ( email )

Number 21, Dameshg St.
Vali-e Asr Ave.
Tehran, 14195
Iran

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