Corruption and Inequality in Contraceptive Use

Arnstein Aassve, Bocconi University
Francesco Chiocchio, CEMFI
Francesco Gandolfi, UPF
Letizia Mencarini, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy

The paper shows that corruption affects fertility dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa. We construct a regional-level bribery measure from Afrobarometer survey data, while we use individual-level DHS data to measure contraception use and education. The probability of using modern contraception decreases as corruption within a region increases. The results confirm the strong association between education and higher use of contraception, but the interaction between bribery and education, shows that corruption fosters social inequality, as the education-driven gap in the use of modern contraceptive methods widens when corruption is high.