Thesis Public Defense | VNP30 - Phạm Quỳnh Như

Occupation and fertility: Evidence from fishing communities in Vietnam

Student: Phạm Quỳnh Như, VNP-30

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Irene van Staveren & Dr. Đặng Đình Thắng

Abstract:

Fishing communities in Vietnam face many difficulties due to their unstable livelihood. To deal with that, they take advantage of employing marine resources using family labors. Therefore, large family size and son preference are prevalent social norms in this occupational group. This study measures the impact of families engaging in the fishing sector on fertility behaviors using the instrumental variable approach. The study shows that as the distance from commune to nearest coastline reduces, the probability of household being in fisheries rises, and treated fishing families also have higher fertility than families living with other occupations. The mechanisms not only lie in economic factors, but also in social factors. The patriarchal system, an institution embedded in both factors, plays an important role. Under the lens of capability approach, effective policies should increase individual well-being, especially for women, by addressing not only in income and assets, but also in challenging institutions limiting individual autonomy and freedom to live the life of their choice.

Keywords: Fishing, fertility, Vietnam, gendered norms, patriarchal system, son preference, economic factors, social factors, Capability approach