Date: Wednesday December 13^th at 11:00 AM Eastern Time

Speaker:  Xi Yang (University of North Texas)

Paper Title: “More Credit, More Babies? Bank Credit Expansion, House Prices, and Fertility”

Abstract: This paper examines the causal effect of bank credit expansion on fertility by exploiting exogenous increases in bank credit supply generated by the U.S. interstate branching deregulation between 1994 and 2005. It employs both traditional and staggered difference-in-difference methods to estimate the causal effect of credit expansion on fertility rates and maternal age. The paper finds that credit expansion reduces fertility rates by 10 percent and increases maternal age by 0.75 percent. Further evidence shows that the housing cost effect is the main mechanism behind the fertility response. These findings highlight the importance of financial market policies and housing affordability for demographic outcomes.

Paper Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15fymsVRBsLI-cLZipPRIZ8AEwaPI3dPO/view?usp=sharing

Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GRwuEshDROOF-7TbaBw_Ug