Economic Growth, Fertility and the Distribution of Income

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Fabian Kindermann
• Subject Area: Economic Policy, Applied Economics
• Term: from 2012 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 221740407

The goal of this research project is to study the influence of tax and transfer schemes on the economic growth rate, the structure of fertility and the distribution of income. In this context, two questions will be of interest:1. What are the interaction channels between economic growth, the fertility decision of individuals as well as the distribution of income?2. Which government interventions may lead to improvements concerning growth, fertility decisions and the distribution of income?To analyze these questions, a simulation model will be developed, in which households decide about the quantity and the amount of education of the children. Education is the engine of economic growth. The model extends the work of David de la Croix und Matthias Doepke [de la Croix, D. und Doepke, M. (2003): Inequality and Growth: Why Differential Fertility Matters, American Economic Review 93, 1091-1113] by explicitly accounting for the decisions of men and women within a household unit as well as a by describing the production sector in more detail. An extensive policy analysis will be conducted in this simulation framework.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professor Matthias Doepke, Ph.D.