Social interaction and fertility dynamics

Through elucidating the effect of four social interaction mechanisms on fertility, this research is expected to provide a new dimension to understanding fertility dynamics. Both theoretical and practical investigations are involved. From a theoretical perspective, this research will provide a systematic review of how individual fertility behaviour changes due to social interaction mechanisms. From a practical perspective, a new mathematical method is expected to be proposed, which will be used to construct full and more realistic kinship structures than the stable-population-based approach. The effects of fertility and mortality on the kin structure will be formulated and quantified. Finally, the simulation models will provide a bottom-up way to understand fertility decline based on social interaction. The effectiveness of family policies will be examined, providing a point of reference for policymakers.