Results
Title

Exploring the influence of precipitation on fertility timing in rural Mexico.

Authors

Simon, Daniel

Abstract

The influence of environmental conditions on fertility decision-making is becoming increasingly important in the context of contemporary climate change. Deforestation, land availability, and environmental quality may shape decisions regarding family size, particularly in regions with high levels of natural resource dependence. This research examines the relationship between fertility timing and precipitation in rural Mexico by linking household event-history data to municipal-level precipitation measures. Even after controlling for other factors that impact fertility, in historically dry areas, households are more likely to have a child following above average precipitation, using both 1-year and 2-year prior precipitation measures. Conversely, the relationship between precipitation and fertility timing in humid areas of rural Mexico is not statistically significant. Overall, the findings reveal that the fertility-environment connection is highly context-specific and differs across climate zones in Mexico, but that fertility timing is associated with recent rainfall patterns for households in dry areas of rural Mexico.

Subjects

MEXICO; HUMAN fertility; METEOROLOGICAL precipitation; FAMILY size; HUMAN reproduction; CLIMATE change

Publication

Population & Environment, 2017, Vol 38, Issue 4, p407

ISSN

0199-0039

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1007/s11111-017-0281-3