Does Higher Economic Development Reduce Household Size? Evidence from India

The paper investigates the impact of higher economic development on average household size in India. The analysis finds that increasing income measured by net per capita state domestic product and per capita consumption expenditure has a negative effect on average household size. Variables such as, higher level education, health outcomes, extent of inequality and urbanization has negative effect on the average household size. Lower level of poverty is associated with lower level family size in long run, whereas, infrastructure has a mix effect. Results show that different religious and social groups have an effect on family size in India. Smaller family size faces several problems such as child rearing, depression, separation, anxiety and land distribution dispute. The paper argues that the issue needs to bring into current development policies for changing social structure, land distribution process, and helping for maintaining appropriate balance between work and family which are missing currently