RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 New Evidence of the Causal Effect of Family Size on Child Quality in a Developing Country
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 64
OP 106
DO 10.3368/jhr.47.1.64
VO 47
IS 1
A1 Ponczek, Vladimir
A1 Souza, Andre Portela
YR 2012
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/47/1/64.abstract
AB This paper presents new evidence of the causal effect of family size on child quality in a developing-country context. We estimate the impact of family size on child labor and educational outcomes among Brazilian children and young adults by exploring the exogenous variation of family size driven by the presence of twins in the family. Using the Brazilian Census data for 1991, we find that the exogenous increase in family size is positively related to labor force participation for boys and girls and to household chores for young women. We also find negative effects on educational outcomes for boys and girls and negative impacts on human capital formation for young female adults. Moreover, we obtain suggestive evidence that credit and time constraints faced by poor families may explain the findings.