Factors affecting demand for children

  

Date Posted: 5/7/2012 9:59:15 AM

Posted By: rodriguez mwalenga  Membership Level: Silver  Total Points: 110

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* The cost of rearing children
The cost of rearing children is in terms of food, clothing, medical care, school fees, etc. There is also the opportunity cost of the mother's time and her reduced freedom of movement. Thus as these costs rise, the demand for children falls.

* Family incomes
As incomes of family increase, there is a tendency for people to reduce their fear of old age insecurity. Children are no longer looked at as insurance for old age or suppliers of labour. The situation is made even better by the advent of pension schemes, medical schemes, etc. Demand for durable goods supersedes that for children.

* Cultural beliefs
There is a wide range of cultural beliefs that influence demand for children. These beliefs include preference for a certain sex, e. g. a male child, viewing children as wealth, e. g. a girl for dowry; viewing children as prestige objects; and taking satisfaction in family formation. Demand for children is also affected by religious considerations.

* Infant mortality
Where infant mortality is high, birth rates could be high due to the need to have some children survive to adulthood. This is the case in areas with poor medical care, insufficient food, poor nutrition and poor sanitation.

It should be noted that with changes in economic development, all the above factors change. The cost of rearing children goes up, family incomes increase, cultural factors change and infant mortality is reduced. The effect of all this is a decrease in demand for children.

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