EMPIRICAL
ANALYSIS OF THE DETERMINANTS OF DEMAND FOR CHILDREN IN JIMMA CITY, ETHIOPIA
An
Application of Count Data Model
Bedassa
Tadesse and Sisay
Asefa
Abstracts:
Using cross-section data on urban households from Jimma city, Southwestern
Ethiopia, in this paper we apply the economic theory of consumer choice and
examine some endogenous household characteristics that affect the demand for
children among urban households in Ethiopia. Based on parameter estimates
derived from a count data model, we also simulate the average number of children
desired by a woman of median urban household characteristics and assess the
extent to which an exogenously set population policy goal of lower fertility can
be achieved. The results of our study indicate that enhancing paternal and
maternal education, altering the economic value of children, increasing
household income, and delaying the marriage age as important policy measures
that should be pursued to reduce fertility. Institutional approaches that
involve “faith-based initiatives” are also relevant. An important
implication of the study is that by using measures that target these
socio-economic variables via market incentives, fertility levels among urban
households in Jimma and other urban areas of Ethiopia with similar demographic
features can be reduced.