Replication package for Cilliers et al., 2024 EEH

Principal Investigator(s):  View help for Principal Investigator(s) Jeanne Cilliers, Lund University; Martine Mariotti, Research School of Economics, Australian National University; Igor Martins, Lund University

Version:  View help for Version V1

Name File Type Size Last Modified
CPI_rep_pack.dta application/x-stata-dta 14.7 KB 08/07/2024 03:09:AM
Replication package.do text/plain 17.6 KB 08/07/2024 12:45:AM
SAF_rep_pack_anon.dta application/x-stata-dta 9.5 MB 08/07/2024 02:11:AM
SLAVEHOLDERS_rep_pack.dta application/x-stata-dta 30.3 KB 08/07/2024 03:08:AM
WHEAT_rep_pack.dta application/x-stata-dta 12.8 KB 08/07/2024 12:56:AM

Project Citation: 

Cilliers, Jeanne, Mariotti, Martine, and Martins, Igor. Replication package for Cilliers et al., 2024 EEH. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2024-08-07. https://doi.org/10.3886/E208362V1

Project Description

Summary:  View help for Summary This paper examines the effects of short-term economic stress, captured by general price volatility and a negative wealth shock on short-run fertility behavior in the rural pre-transitional society of the Cape Colony. First, we link complete birth histories of settler women from the South African Families database to consumer price index data to examine the effect of price volatility on conceptions. Next, we link the same birth histories to slave owner and slave emancipation data to examine the effect of a negative wealth shock on conception. Upon slave emancipation in 1834, former slave owners received on average only between 40 and 50% of the market value of their slaves as compensation, resulting in a substantial reduction in their wealth. Relying on event history models that look simultaneously at stopping and spacing, we do not find strong evidence in support of fertility control in response to general price volatility. We do find greater variance in birth interval lengths for former slaveholding households during and immediately after emancipation, suggesting that a negative wealth shock is associated with increased fertility limitation through postponement in this context.
Funding Sources:  View help for Funding Sources Riksbankens Jubileumsfond (M20-0041)

Scope of Project

Subject Terms:  View help for Subject Terms fertility; wealth; prices; volatility; cure models; shocks
Geographic Coverage:  View help for Geographic Coverage Cape Colony
Time Period(s):  View help for Time Period(s) 1800 – 1860
Universe:  View help for Universe Settler mothers, aged 15-49 who lived at least until age 50, with complete birth histories,
Data Type(s):  View help for Data Type(s) event/transaction data

Methodology

Data Source:  View help for Data Source South African Families

Unit(s) of Observation:  View help for Unit(s) of Observation individuals

Related Publications

Download this project

Published Versions

V1 [2024-08-07]

Export Metadata

Dublin Core

DDI 2.5

Report a Problem

Found a serious problem with the data, such as disclosure risk or copyrighted content? Let us know.

This material is distributed exactly as received from the data depositor. As of April 2026, depositors are required to submit study materials in accessible formats. ICPSR has not reviewed, checked, or processed this material. For additional information about the study, please contact the investigator(s) directly. If you have questions about the accessibility of materials distributed by ICPSR or require further assistance, please visit ICPSR's Accessibility Center.