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Tradeoffs between fertility and child development attributes: evidence from coral bleaching in Indonesia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 September 2021

Pasita Chaijaroen Open the ORCID record for Pasita Chaijaroen [Opens in a new window]
Pasita Chaijaroen*
Affiliation:
Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology, Rayong, Thailand
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: pasita.c@vistec.ac.th
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Abstract

Coral bleaching is associated with large income shocks and a substantial decrease in protein consumption among the affected fishery households in Indonesia [Chaijaroen (2019) Long-lasting income shocks and adaptations: evidence from coral bleaching in Indonesia. Journal of Development Economics136, 119–136]. According to the health and economics literature, early childhood exposures to shocks such as those from coral bleaching can have long-lasting effects on health, schooling, and other later-life outcomes. This paper explores how the mass coral bleaching in 1998 affected household decisions on fertility and child development. Using the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS) and a triple differences approach, results from 2000 suggest an increase in fertility and an increased likelihood of severe childhood stunting among the affected households. For comparison, rainfall shocks are associated with a decrease in fertility and smaller adverse effects on child health and schooling outcomes. This study suggests that the effects of coral bleaching might have been underestimated, and our findings yield more targeted policy recommendations on climate shock mitigation.

Keywords

coral bleachingshocksfertilitychild outcomes

JEL classification

Q54: Climate • Natural Disasters and Their Management • Global Warming O15: Human Resources • Human Development • Income Distribution • Migration J13: Fertility • Family Planning • Child Care • Children • Youth
Type
Research Article
Information
Environment and Development Economics , Volume 27 , Issue 4 , August 2022 , pp. 295 - 315
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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