Authors: Kohler, Hans-Peter¹; Behrman, JereR.²; Skytthe, Axel³

Source: Population and Development Review, Volume 31, Number 3, September 2005 , pp. 407-445(39)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Economic and rational-choice theories suggest that individuals form unions or have children because these decisions increase their subjective well-being or “happiness.” We investigate this relation using within-MZ (identical) twin pair estimates to control for unobserved factors, such as optimistic preferences, that may simultaneously affect happiness, partnerships, and fertility. Our findings, based on Danish twins aged 25–45 and 50–70 years old, include the following. (1) Currently being in a partnership has large positive effects on happiness. (2) A first child substantially increases well-being, in analyses without controls for partnerships, and males enjoy an almost 75 percent larger happiness gain from a first-born son than from a first-born daughter; however, only females enjoy a happiness gain from the first-born child with controls for partnerships. (3) Additional children beyond the first child have a negative effect on subjective well-being for females, while there is no effect for males. (4) Ever having had children does not significantly affect the subjective well-being of males or females aged 50–70 years.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1728-4457.2005.00078.x

Affiliations: 1: Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Pennsylvania, 3718 Locust Walk, 272 McNeil Building Philadelphia, PA 19104-6298 2: Economics Department, McNeil 160, University of Pennsylvania, 3718 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6297 3: Research Scientist, Institute of Public Health and Danish Center for Demographic Research, SDU-Odense, Sdr. Boulevard 23A, Odense C, Denmark

Publication date: 2005-09-01

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