Diffusion of Reproductive Health Behavior through International Migration: Effects on Origin-Country Fertility
Susan Godlonton, Caroline Theoharides
American Economic Review · 2025 · Volume 115 · Issue 10
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.
Keywords
Micro-Based Behavioral Economics: Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making, International Migration, Health: Government Policy, Regulation, Public Health, Fertility, Family Planning, Child Care, Children, Youth, Economic Development: Human Resources, Human Development, Income Distribution, Migration, Economic Development: Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis, Housing, Infrastructure, Economic Sociology, Economic Anthropology, Language, Social and Economic Stratification
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