The Impact of Air Pollution and Information Access on Women’s Fertility Decisions: Evidence from Thailand

Despite increased exposure to air pollution concentration (PM2.5) and access to information, household fertility response to climate anxiety remains understudied in developing countries. To assess if individuals actively increase information gathering and correspondingly change their fertility decisions, we integrate panel socioeconomic and demographic data and Google Trends data from Thailand with high-resolution PM2.5 and weather data. Using seasonal exposure to forest fires and an instrumental variable approach, we find evidence of an increase in information-seeking behavior that contributes to a decline in young women's fertility. These findings shed light on salient factors that can shape a country's fertility patterns.