Housing and Fertility by Dimas Fazio, Tarun Ramadorai, Janis Skrastins, Bernardus Ferdinandus Nazar Van Doornik :: SSRN
London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE); Imperial College London; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI) Washington University in St. Louis - John M. Olin Business School Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil - Central Bank of Brazil Date Written: July 15, 2025 We examine how access to housing impacts fertility rates, harnessing random variation from Brazilian housing credit lotteries. 20-25-year-olds randomly obtaining housing show increased average probabilities of having children (32%) and more children (33%), with no corresponding increase in fertility for those above 40. The lifetime completed fertility increase for a 20-year-old is twice as large from immediately obtaining housing rather than at age 30. Stronger increases in fertility are seen for households in areas with lower quality housing, lower income, and lower female income shares. Recipients relocate to areas with lower crime rates, higher per cap