ECIN Replication Package for "For Better or for Worse? Fertility Challenges and Marital Dissolution"

<p><span>If a couples’ preferences for children are not met, it can diminish the utility within the union and lead to its dissolution. Using data from 63 developing countries we find that a permanent change in potential family size due to infertility doubles the likelihood of marital dissolution. Additionally, death of the first-born is associated with a small increase in marital instability, while gender of the first-born has no effect. Interestingly, infertility and the death of the first-born are less destabilizing for unions in polygamous countries, consistent with the possibility of another wife providing partial insurance against negative fertility events.</span></p>