A new GLO Discussion Paper finds that while most counties in the U.S. experienced a Baby Boom following the war, the increase in fertility was lower in high-casualty rate counties than in low-casualty rate counties which were positively related to 1950s female employment and household income.

The Global Labor Organization (GLO) is an independent, non-partisan and non-governmental organization that functions as an international network and virtual platform to stimulate global research, debate and collaboration.

GLO Discussion Paper No. 847, 2021

847 World War II, the Baby Boom and Employment: County Level Evidence – Download PDF
by Brodeur, Abel & Kattan, Lamis

GLO Fellow Abel Brodeur & GLO Affiliate Lamis Kattan

Author Abstract: This paper examines the impact of male casualties due to World War II on fertility and female employment in the United States. We rely on the number of casualties at the county-level and use a difference-in-differences strategy. While most counties in the U.S. experienced a Baby Boom following the war, we find that the increase in fertility was lower in high-casualty rate counties than in low-casualty rate counties. Analyzing the channels through which male casualties could have decreased fertility, we provide evidence that county male casualties are positively related to 1950s female employment and household income.

Featured image: Stijn-Swinnen-on-unsplash

GLO Discussion Papers are research and policy papers of the GLO Network which are widely circulated to encourage discussion. Provided in cooperation with EconStor, a service of the ZBW – Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, GLO Discussion Papers are among others listed in RePEc (see IDEAS,  EconPapers). Complete list of all GLO DPs – downloadable for free.

Ends;