| This thesis is an empirical investigation of the determination of fertility and child health in households from a low income country. A model, based on Becker's (1991) theory of the child quantity-quality trade-off, is presented as a theoretical basis for the empirical analysis. The model assumes that households make a rational allocation of their limited resources in the production of child quantity (family size) and child quality (including health and education). Because both child quantity and quality are normal goods and the household attempts to equalize investments in child quality among children, households will trade-off additional children for high "quality" children. Smaller households will tend to have higher "quality" children.;The results show that mother's education is an important determinant of both family size and child health, as expected. Father's education is also shown to be an important determinant of both outcomes. This contradicts some of the empirical literature and is attributed to the father's role in generating market income and as a contributor in the production of child quantity and quality. The prices of several production inputs are also shown to be determinants of the household outcomes. The effect of income on the outcomes is less clear, but is generally associated with better child health.;The implications of this model are tested using data from a household survey in the Philippines. Fertility and health outcomes are analyzed using reduced forms. The number of children ever born and the number of children born from 1978 to 1983 are measures of child quantity. The age of the mother at first birth and the use of modern contraceptives are analyzed as inputs in the production of child quantity. Infant and child mortality are analyzed as measures of child health, as are anthropometric indicators (height-for-age, weight-for-height, arm circumference-for-age) and the hemoglobin count. |
