Will Internet Use Affect Fertility Desire？

Population Research ›› 2022, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (3): 3-15.

Will Internet Use Affect Fertility Desire？

Qiu Leiju^1，Feng Yiqiang^2，Shi Yupeng^3，Sun Baowen⁴

Qiu Leiju¹, China Centre for Internet Economy Research, Central University of Finance and Economics; Feng Yiqiang² , School of Information, Central University of Finance and Economics; Shi Yupeng ³(Corresponding Author) , School of Economics, China Centre for Internet Economy Research, Central University of Finance and Economics; Sun Baowen⁴ ，China Centre for Internet Economy Research, Central University of Finance and Economics.

Online:2022-05-29 Published:2022-06-07
About author:Qiu Leiju, China Centre for Internet Economy Research, Central University of Finance and Economics; Feng Yiqiang , School of Information, Central University of Finance and Economics; Shi Yupeng (Corresponding Author) , School of Economics, China Centre for Internet Economy Research, Central University of Finance and Economics; Sun Baowen ， China Centre for Internet Economy Research, Central University of Finance and Economics.

互联网使用会影响居民生育意愿吗？

邱磊菊^1，冯宜强^2，史宇鹏^3，孙宝文⁴

邱磊菊¹，中央财经大学中国互联网经济研究院副研究员；冯宜强²，中央财经大学信息学院博士研究生；史宇鹏³（通讯作者），中央财经大学经济学院、中国互联网经济研究院教授；孙宝文⁴，中央财经大学中国互联网经济研究院教授。

作者简介:邱磊菊，中央财经大学中国互联网经济研究院副研究员；冯宜强，中央财经大学信息学院博士研究生；史宇鹏（通讯作者），中央财经大学经济学院、中国互联网经济研究院教授；孙宝文，中央财经大学中国互联网经济研究院教授。
基金资助:
本文为国家自然科学基金青年项目“房价上涨经历、风险收益预期及家庭投资决策”（NSFC71804206）、国家社会科学基金重大项目“数字经济与实体经济深度融合的机制与对策研究”（21ZDA032）、北京高校卓越青年科学家计划项目（BJJWZYJH01201910034034）的阶段性成果。

Abstract

Abstract: Using data from the China Family Panel Studies and the matched urban data and Baidu search index, this paper examines the effects of internet use on fertility desire as well as its underlying mechanisms. After controlling for other influencing factors and endogenous issues, the results show that residents who use the internet have about 10.5% lower fertility desire than nonusers, especially for internet users who live in economically developed cities, with low education and low income. It is further identified that negative information mechanism, utility substitution mechanism, and marital satisfaction mechanism are the ways through which internet use reduces fertility desire. In addition, internet use also influences the actual fertility behavior and weakens the effect of the universal twochild policy. Our study provides a new perspective for understanding the low fertility problem.

Keywords: Fertility Desire, Low Fertility Rate, Internet, Twochild Policy

摘要： 低生育率是中国亟待解决的重要问题。使用中国家庭追踪调查数据以及相匹配的城市统计数据和百度搜索指数，实证分析了互联网使用对居民生育意愿的影响及其内在机制，拓展了人口学的相关研究。控制了影响生育意愿的其他因素和内生性问题后，分析结果表明，使用互联网的居民比不使用者的生育意愿降低了约10.5%，居住在经济发达城市、低学历、低收入的互联网使用者降幅更加明显。进一步的分析表明，负面信息机制、效用替代机制和婚姻满意度机制是互联网使用降低居民生育意愿的重要途径。此外，互联网使用也弱化了居民的实际生育行为，并削弱了全面两孩政策的实施效果。这些研究发现为理解中国低生育率问题提供了一个新的角度和思路。

关键词: 生育意愿, 低生育率, 互联网, 两孩政策

Qiu Leiju, Feng Yiqiang, Shi Yupeng, Sun Baowen. Will Internet Use Affect Fertility Desire？[J]. Population Research, 2022, 46(3): 3-15.

邱磊菊, 冯宜强, 史宇鹏, 孙宝文. 互联网使用会影响居民生育意愿吗？[J]. 人口研究, 2022, 46(3): 3-15.

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