Germany's low natality rate has been a major source of concern for politicians for decades. Using longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, this column analyses the effects of trade integration on family choices in Germany. The authors find that exposure to greater import competition from Eastern Europe led to worse labour market outcomes and lower fertility
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has forced millions of Ukrainian children to leave their schools and homes. Such adverse shocks early in life can have profound long-term effects. This column presents evidence from WWII and the Vietnam War of how childhood war exposure had detrimental effects on education, physical and mental health, and labour market outcomes, even decades