D1 - Household Behavior and Family EconomicsReturn

The paper is concerned with the microeconomic foundations of fertility, analyzing three approaches: the Chicago approach, the Pennsylvanian approach and Julian Simon's approach. The paper highlights the Chicago tradition that perceives children as either consumer goods or capital goods. The approach of Julian Simon to fertility in developing countries is discussed. The article assumes that people decide about their children rationally.

The article is concerned with the economics of religion. The first chapter is introduction into the economics of religion by Adam Smith. The second chapter asks the question whether the secularization hypothesis is tenable. The third chapter analyzes the allocation of time and church attendance and investments into religious capital. The forth chapter examines religious market in perfect or imperfect competition. The fifth chapter summarizes empirical research. The sixth chapter brings conclusions.