The effect of work-family conflict on fertility intentions: evidence from China

We constructed two indicators to measure work-family conflict, work-home conflict and work-family responsibility. Data from the 2019 China Integrated Social Conditions Survey Project are also used to causally estimate the effect of work-family conflict on fertility intentions. Our findings suggest that work-home conflict promotes population fertility intentions, while work-family responsibility conflict has a dampening effect on fertility intentions. The effect of work-family conflict on fertility intentions was heterogeneous in terms of gender, household registration, and educational attainment. Based on the study findings, we believe that the Chinese government should promote the population's willingness to have children in three ways: encouraging couples to share household chores, sharing family responsibilities, and shortening the number of years of education.