Wednesday, June 10, 2026 12:30 - 14:00

This event is both online and in person.

SAL 1.04, 1st Floor Conference Room, Sir Arthur Lewis Building, LSE, 32 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PH

Online participants are welcome:
Please sign up to our mailinglist (seminar_macroiep) to receive event updates and a link to the seminar online.

About this event

We study fertility in a dynamic spatial equilibrium model with endogenous location and residential choices, alongside investments in children?s education. We estimate the model using near-universal administrative microdata from South Korea, drawing on census records, credit bureau data linked to mobile phone mobility records, and government administrative sources. Our estimates indicate that high commuting and housing costs, combined with intensive education investments in large cities, where the amenity of living is large, substantially reduce fertility. We conduct a decomposition exercise to explain the sharp decline in South Korean fertility over the past decade, finding that deteriorating child-rearing amenities and rising education costs play a significant role. Finally, we conduct a series of counterfactual exercises considering place-based policies to reduce commuting costs, increase housing supply, or lower education costs. We find that policies focusing exclusively on large cities, such as Seoul, may have the opposite effect on fertility than intended due to spatial sorting. However, a combination of nationwide policies targeting the fertility margin directly can boost fertility significantly.

Participants are expected to adhere to the CEP Events Code of Conduct.

Directions

This event will take place in SAL 1.04, 1st Floor Conference Room, Sir Arthur Lewis Building, LSE, 32 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PH.

Online participants are welcome:
Please sign up to our mailinglist (seminar_macroiep) to receive event updates and a link to the seminar online.

The building is labelled SAL on the LSE campus map. You can also find us on Google Maps. For further information, go to contact us.

Trade and Urban Seminars are part of the CEP's Trade programme and Urban programme.