Female employment characteristics and fertility in Benin: a microeconometric analysis

Abstract Controlling fertility is a major concern for public policy. This paper analyzes the effect of women's employment characteristics on their fertility. To this end, using data from the 2017-2018 Benin Demographic and Health Survey (EDSB-V), we use a probit model with selection to estimate the probability of a woman having at least one child over a three-year period preceding the survey as a function of the characteristics of the job held by the woman. The results show that the vast majority of Beninese women on the labour market tend to work at home, on family farms or on their own account in the agricultural or commercial sectors. These branches of activity do not necessarily require the use of skilled labor, and time management is relatively flexible. These labor market characteristics militate in favor of a high fertility rate among working women in Benin. These results provide elements for a fertility control policy in Benin.