Trust and Fertility: Evidence from OECD countries

Abstract

Using panel data for 24 (OECD) countries during the period 1980–2004 this study examines how social trust affects fertility. The major finding through the random effects approach is that the social trust increases the fertility rate. A 1% rise in the trust rate leads to an increase in fertility by 0.01 points. The results presented here suggest that in developed countries, trust underlies the desirable circumstances for child rearing.Trust, fertility, OECD, inequality, female labor participation.