Contents
Association of HIV Testing Behaviour with Socio-demographic, Sexual Behaviour,
and Testing Barrier Factors among Married Persons in Selected States of Nigeria
Sunmola, AM., Isiugo-Abanihe, U.c., Aderinto, A., Erinosho, 0., Joseph, R.
andDike,N.
Family Size and Economic Welfare: Econometric Analysis of the Islamic Perspective
Kareem, Muritala Kewuyemi, Bankole, Abiodun Surajudeen, and Adeleke,
Hameedah
The Legality and Legitimacy of Marijuana Consumption in Nigeria
Busari, Dauda
Perception and Utilization of Traditional Orthopaedic Services by Orthopaedic
Patients in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
Owumi, B.E., Taiwo, P.A and Victor Kolo
An Assessment of Environmental Sanitation and Solid Waste Management in Ibadan
North Local Government, Oyo State, Nigeria
Omolawal, Samuel Ayodeji and Shittu, Olamide Sarafadeen
Psychological Contract Violation and Motivational Strategies as Predictors of
Employees' Job Performance
Ayodele, Israel Oluwatosin and Shenge, Nyitor Alex
Farm Family Characteristics and Succession Planning of Poultry Farmers in Oyo and
Osun States, Nigeria
Arowolo, 0.0., Ogunronbi, AA, Apantaku, S.O. and Adeogun, S.O.
Influence of Depression and the Moderating Effect of Self Esteem on Risky Sexual
Behaviour among University of Ibadan Students
Adenrele, T.A and Olley, B.O.
Religious Commitment, Social Support and Life Satisfaction
Mayungbo, O.A. and Sunmola, A.M.
Factors Influencing Acceptability of Family Planning among Women in Rural
Communities in He Central Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria
Akokuwebe, Monica Ewomazino and Ojo, Oluwawole Abraham
VOLUME 14/ NUMBER 2/ SEPTEMBER 2016
FACULTY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN
ISSN 15975207
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
Ibadan Journal !ytAe
Social Sciences
Volume 14/ Number 2/ September 2016
Editor: C.O. Olatubara
Asst. Editor: O.B.c. Nwolise
Business Manager: O.A. Oyeranti
Copy Editor: Omonike T. Okotete
Associate Editors
A.S. Bankole (Economics) E.E. Okafor (Sociology)
Ibidun O. Adelekan (Geography) C.O. Olatubara (Urban & Regional Planning)
O.B.c. Nwolise (Political Science)
Advisory Board
OgohAlubo, University ofJoslNational Institute for Policy & Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Nigeria
J. M. Baba, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria
Michael Bratton, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
Clara Fayorsey, University of Ghana, Legon Ghana
Marjor Hoek Hoek-Smith, Whaton School, University of Pennsylvania, USA
L. Adele Jinadu, Centre for Advanced Social Sciences (CASS), Port-Harcourt, Nigeria
Per Lindskog, University of Link oping, Sweden
Patrick Low, World Trade Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
Israel Taiwo Ojo, University ofTIorin, Nigeria
Sola Olowu, ObafemiAwolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Anne LetitiaPeplau, University of Cali fomi a, Los Angeles, USA
Subscriptions and Marketing
Two issues ofIJSS are published per year, in March and September, by the Faculty ofthe Social Sciences, University ofIbadan, Nigeria.
Annual subscriptions (2005): Nigeria and ECOWAS Member States xl ,500 (individual), x3,000 (institution); Outside ECOWAS, rest
ofAfrica, and the world US$30 (individual), US$75 (institution); Single Issues (2005): Nigeria and ECOWAS Member States x400
(individual), x650 (institution); Outside ECOWAS, rest of Africa, and the world US$40 (institution). Advertising and other marketing
details are available from:
The Business Manager
Ibadan Journal ofthe Social Sciences (IJSS) Department of Economics
University ofIbadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Email: journal.ijss@rnail.ui.edu.ng
©20 16 Faculty ofthe Social Sciences, University ofIbadan, Nigeria
All rights reserved
ISSN: 1597-5207 Printed by Samlad Printers, AgixMu,Ibadan 08023659273
m ~ijSSibadan IJ wwwfacebook.com/ijss university of ibadan/official page
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
Ibadan Journal o{tk
Social Sciences
~ Volume 14/ Number 2/ September 2016 ' ":.
Contents
Association ofHIV Testing Behaviour with Socio-demographic, Sexual Behaviour,
and Testing Barrier Factors among Married Persons in Selected States of Nigeria
Sunmola, A.M, Isiugo-Abanihe, u.c., Aderinto, A., Erinosho, 0.,
Joseph, R. and Dike, N...... . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 135
Family Size and Economic Welfare: Econometric Analysis of the Islamic Perspective
Kareem, Muritala Kewuyemi, Bankole, Abiodun Surajudeen, and Adeleke, Hameedah ... 144
The Legality and Legitimacy of Marijuana Consumption in Nigeria
Busari, Dauda ... ... ... ... ... ... ..... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... 158
Perception and Utilization of Traditional Orthopaedic Services by Orthopaedic
Patients in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
Owumi, B.E., Taiwo, P.A. and Victor Kolo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 169
An Assessment of Environmental Sanitation and Solid Waste Management in
Ibadan North Local Government, Oyo State, Nigeria
Omolawal, Samuel Ayodeji and Shittu, Olamide Sarafadeen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 183
Psychological Contract Violation and Motivational Strategies as Predictors of
Employees' Job Performance
Ayodele,Israel Oluwatosin and Shenge, Nyitor Alex : 202
. Farm Family Characteristics and Succession Planning of Poultry Farmers in
Oyo and Osun States, Nigeria
Arowolo, 0. 0., Ogunronbi, A.A., Apantaku, S.O. and Adeogun, S.o. . . . . . . . . . . . ..... 215
Influence of Depression and the Moderating Effect of Self Esteem on Risky
Sexual Behaviour among University of Ibadan Students
Adenrele, T.A. and Olley,B.o. 227
Religious Commitment, Social Support and Life Satisfaction
Mayungbo, o.A. and Sunmola, A.M 237
Factors Influencing Acceptability of Family Planning among Women in Rural
Communities in Ife Central Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria
Akokuwebe, Monica Ewomazino and Ojo, Oluwawole Abraham t: 250
Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
©/badan Journal of the Social Sciences
Volume 14, Number 2, September 2016
Family Size and Economic Welfare: Econometric Analysis of
the Islamic Perspective
Kareem, Muritala Kewuyemi', Bankole, Abiodun Surajudeen', Adeleke, Hameedah"
1Senior Lecturer, Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
2Professor, Department of Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
3Graduate Student, Department of Economics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
The conventional wisdom in economic analysis postulates an inverse relationship between
family size and welfare because the higher the number of children a family needs to cater for,
the more problematic for the family to succeed economically. Economic analyses stemmed from
Malthusian thinking which has given thrust to modern day global population policy. In contrast,
the Islamic perspective suggests a direct association between the two, strongly supported in
Q17: 31, which says, 'Kill not your children for fear of poverty: We shall provide sustenance for
them as well as you. Verily, the killing of them is a great sin ', This paper investigates the effects
of family size and composition using the Harmonized National Living Standard Survey data
subjected to frequencies and ordinary least square regression to respectively discern the
relationship and estimate the impact of household size on household welfare. The paper
empirically establishes that economic analysis linearly relating the two phenomena is not only
over simplistic but is also devoid of deepened consideration of other factors that produce a
positive relationship which the Islamic view suggests.
Keywords: Fertility, poverty, Islamic economics
Introduction rates are positively correlated while the latter
Global population grows each year by coexists with low growth. The perception that
approximately 80 million people (Arthur, 2005) high population growth constitutes a binding
and nearly all of the growth is concentrated in constraint to economic growth and efforts
developing countries where fertility rate has directed at poverty alleviation seems correct on
remained high and where, concurrently, poverty the face value. However, studies which analysed
remains one of the greatest challenges. Fertility the question of whether and the extent to which
rate has been falling over time globally while, family size or household population affect
despite the worldwide reductions on the average, economic welfare of households have generated
sub-Sahara Africa still records a high rate. controversial results rendering the nexus a
World fertility rate fell to 2.53% in 2012 from continuous empirical exploration.
2.9% in 1990 as that of sub-Saharan Africa Received wisdom lends credence to the
dropped to 5.5% from 6.05% in the same period position that inappropriately managed large
(WDI, 2014). Nigeria can be counted among family size may have several adverse
countries whose fertility rate has experienced a implications on health, nutrition, educational
decline even if slightly from 6.2% to 6.02%. attainment of children, social status of families
World GDP growth was just 3.1% in 2012 while as well as standard of living of a household. On
sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria recorded 4.4% the one hand, a relatively large family size may
and 4.3% respectively. Poverty headcount ratio beget some undesirable implications such as
at $1.25 a day in SSA was 46.8% in 2011 while poor health, low status and income, low levels of
Nigeria recorded 62% in 2010 (WDI, 2014). education, pressure on existing infrastructure
Therefore, it appears that poverty and fertility due to overexploitation, poor childcare and
144
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
Family Size and Economic Welfare: Econometric Analysis of the Islamic Perspective
nutnnon which affect living standard. On the at birth. 2 It appears, therefore that human
other hand, a relatively small family size is intervention in nature's cause cannot but
believed to assist in providing adequately for the produce further distasteful implications that it
needs of its members, with such a small family continues to grapple with.
being able to benefit from the necessities of life. In Nigeria; over the years, policy control on
This standard view of family size stemmed from choice of family size has not been formally
the Malthusian theory of population which enunciated though you find in such policies as
stated that because human populations grow National Health Insurance Scheme which
exponentially while food production grows at an stipulated registration of one spouse and four
arithmetic rate, humans would have no resources biological children for a male employee to
to survive on in the future. Malthus (1798) then participate in the scheme'. The perception of
urged population control to avoid catastrophic using children as the basis of future collateral
occurrence and advocated later marriages as and allowing nature to decide whether one gets
preventive check on population growth as well pregnant and gives birth was practised until
as disease, war and famine as positive check. modem inculcation of birth control education
The Malthusian League argued successfully for which was based on the belief that such practice
post-marriage birth control. The accepted contributed to poor quality of health, mal-
doctrine by the political and business classes nutrition and degradation of the environment.
resulted in the proliferation of ideas leading to Be the above as it may, we find that the
population .control policy backed by the conventional wisdom in economic analysis
production of contraceptives and marketing postulates an inverse relationship between
same to developing countries especially those family size and welfare because the higher the
whose fertility rates are deemed inconsistent number of children a family needs to cater for,
with sustainable world development. According the more problematic for the family to -succeed
to Malthus (op. cit), fertility of the poor - rather economically. This economic relationship
than chronic or periodic unemployment - was stemmed from Malthusian thinking which has
the main source of poverty. Population growth given thrust to modem day global population
and poverty are the chief stimuli for the poor to policy. In contrast, the Islamic perspective
seek work and thus a necessary stimulus to suggests a direct association between the two,
industry. strongly supported in Q17:31, which says, 'Kill
One of the severe manifestations of not your children for fear of poverty: We shall
population control is the incidence of ageing provide sustenance for them as well as you.
populations globally with attendant economic Verily, the killing of them is a great sin ', One
implications such as increased expenditure on may view this Qur'an verse as having both
health and aged care, reduction in labour force short-term and long term implications. In the
participation rates (Productivity Commission, short term, the new-born has access to mother's
2005)' and productivity, among others. In the breast milk for the next two years after birth and
report, Australia's aged population (65 years and therefore, the parents need not fear poverty from
above) was predicted to grow to 25% of the its birth. In the long run, the baby depends on
population in 2044/45 from half that proportion other foods and has to be trained with resources
in 2005. China's population control policy before adulthood after which comes eventual
introduced in 1978 aimed at alleviating socio- responsibility to care for the parents in return. It
economic and environmental problems which is the long-term economic implication of fertility
were applauded to have reduced the country's
population by 200 million in three decades also
produced the phenomena of aging population, 2 Hvistendahl, M. (2010) "Has China Outgrown the
contracting labour force and a skewed sex ratio One-Child Policy?". Science 329 (5998): 1458-
1461. Doi: 10.1126/science.329. 5998. 1458
20847244.
, Govemmentof Australia (2005) Economic 3 National Health Insurance Scheme (2012)
Implicar ons of an Ageing Australia, Productivity Operational Guidelines. Accessed at nhis.gov.ng
Commission, Research Report 16. 10/512015.
145
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
~ .
~ lbadan Journal of the Social Sciences
that seems to concern economists who believe and Quran 58:11 "Allah will exalt in degree
larger family size becomes problematic for the those of you who believe, and those who have
family welfare particularly in view of the been granted knowledge". Allah tells us in these
additional expenditure to nurture the additional verses the supremacy of the knowledgeable
children. person over the ignorant, such that parents who
We postulate that the analysis of the issue of give their children the required education would
family size and household welfare transcends have distanced themselves from poverty of their
the short term. However, in the very long term, family and in old age. It rests with man to seek
children are expected to pay back to the family knowledge with which to get his sustenance.
by supporting their family either by helping to That was why the first revelation to Prophet
cater for some of the siblings, or providing some Muhammad (Q 96: 1-5) was on education
unconditional cash transfer to care for parents because it is the key with which man will open
and siblings. In real life situations of certain many gates of bounties of God including
societies, some children who become rich in economic welfare. "Read in the name of your
adulthood come back to build houses for their Lord who created, Created man from a clinging
parents to reside in their old age or provide substance. Read, and your Lord is the most
rental income for the upkeep of such parents. Geserous- Who taught by the pen- Taught man
This is supported in Qur'an 17:23 "And your that whtchlhe knew not" (Q 96: 1-5).
Lord has decreed that you worship none but The above-mentioned five verses revealed to
him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If Prophet Muhammad in the cave of Hira in
one of them or both of them attain old age in Makkah as the-first revelation from God through
your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, angel Jibril indicate the importance of education
nor shout at them but address them in terms of in the economic empowerment of man. The truth
honour". In effect, we hypothesise that a large is that with the help of his intellect (education),
family will contribute to family welfare because . it is possible for man to provide for himself and
Allah truly provides for the additional children members of his family their material needs. He
in the short term as well as in the distant future if could innovate products or invent machines that
they are well nurtured according to the dictates could earn him income that he and his family
of Allah. "And there is no creature on earth but will not be able to spend one billionth of it
that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows because of its abundance. Many of these
its place of dwelling and place of storage. All is innovators. and inventors are millionaires or
in a clear register" (Q 11:6). It can be inferred multi-billionaires in local and foreign currencies.
from the verse that God declares that He has This shows that through education a place of
provided sustenance for all His creatures honour will accrue to the knowledgeable people
including the worms, ants and reptiles in the thereby leading them to posterity and taking
bowels of the earth. If God has provided for them out of austerity and poverty. The fear of
these creatures of His, He could certainly not poverty and indigence can be erased through
have forgotten His noblest creature (man). Most education. Man is even asked to pray for
assuredly, He has provided for man. It is left to . knowledge (education) Q20:114 when it says:
them to find it and make use of it. .. . and say, "My Lord, increase me in
The children by performing their duty to knowledge". This is because it is one of the
their parents will contribute to the economic means to raise people's standards of living and
emancipation of the family in the long term. One improve their economic welfare.
of the ways that parents nurture their children is Prophet Muhammad said man will have
through the provision of quality education. It is more than enough resources through acquisition
instructive to note that seeking knowledge was of knowledge. He said "For him who adopts a
mandated by Allah who taught Adam who path seeking knowledge, Allah eases the way to
became successful over the angels (see Q2:31- Paradise and angels spread their wings for a
34). According to the Quran 39:9 "... Say: "Are seeker of knowledge, being pleased with his
those who know equal to those who know not?" occupation, and all that are in the heavens and
146
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
Family Size and Economic Welfare: Econometric Analysis of the Islamic Perspective
the earth including the fish in the water ask for welfare and household size as well as the
forgiveness for a learned one. A learned one is tendency for religious beliefs to influence the
superior to a worshipper as the moon is superior household size as the overview of the paper. In
to all the planets. The Divine are heirs of the section 3, we present the review of literature
prophets and the prophets do not leave an regarding the relationship between household
inheritance of Dirham and Dinars (money) but size and welfare as well as the theoretical
only of knowledge. He who acquires knowledge, framework of the paper. The results of the
acquires a vast portion (Yahya, 1985: 638). research are presented and discussed in section 4
Therefore, this study seeks to carry out an while summary and conclusion are provided in
empirical investigation to determine whether section 5.
family size affects household welfare in
particular if the members of the family are Overview of the Study
educated. In the process, it specifically Household Size and Family Welfare Pattern in
examines the relationship between religious Nigeria
beliefs and household welfare; assess the The household welfare or expenditure pattern in
relationship between the number of children Nigerian six geo-political zone indicates some
educated" and household welfare; establish a interesting trend. The household welfare pattern,
relationship between the number of children measured by household per capita food and non-
working and household welfare; and food consumption expenditure, shows that the
econometrically determine the impact of family South-east geopolitical zone recorded the
size on household welfare. highest welfare expenditure in 20045 followed
This study is justified in terms of both closely by South-south, South west, North
theoretical and empirical contribution. Unlike central and North east, -while North west
the approaches used in existing literature, which accounts for the least welfare expenditure in the
only considered the influence of family size zones. In 2010, South-south recorded the highest
linearly on household welfare (e.g. Arthur, 2005; welfare pattern followed closely by South west
Tran, 2005), we employ a different approach and South east, while North-west still accounts
which considers the nature of household for the least welfare expenditure in 2010.
composition with respect to number of educated Generally, the total household welfare
children and number of working children on expenditure rose by 12% from the level in 2004
household welfare in Nigeria. This approach to N60,202.95 in 2010, signifying an
combines the idea that having large family size improvement in household welfare (Fig. 1).
could only be detrimental to family welfare if Comparing household welfare expenditure
the children are not educated (given knowledge) growth between 2004 and 2010 by geopolitical
and if the children do not pay back when they zone, North-central zone had the highest of
start working and start earning income (i.e. when 16.8% in per capita total household food and
they become good/dutiful to their parents). The non-food consumption expenditure, South-west
paper employs the National Living Standards (14.2%) and South-south (13.2%). In addition,
Survey (NLSS) 2004 and the Harmonised household welfare expenditure in North east
National Living Standards Survey (HNLSS) rose by 10.3% while in North-west it was 8.8%.
2010 data sets which we explore to describe the South-east accounts for the lowest percentage
trend of family size and welfare in Nigeria. The increase in household welfare expenditure.
sets also provide the data for our ordinary least
square (OLS) regression analysis which allows
us to discern the impact of family size on family
welfare using the household as a measure of
family. The rest of the paper is organised as
follows: section 2 explores data to provide a
tentative correlation of measures of household
4 Western education 5 Values were corrected for inflation
147
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
~ Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
Table 1: Family Size Based on Geo-Political Zone
80,000.00
70,000.00
60,000.00
!>O,UQU.oo
40,000.00
30,000.00
20,000.00
10,000.00
north north north south sout.h south Tot",1
central east west east south west
LJPer capita total household food and non-food consumption expenditure (2004i
_ Per capita total hOllsehold food and non-food coriswmpxton expenditure (2010)
Source: Author's Computations from NLSS' (2004) and HNLS (2010/
Figure 1: A Chart Showing Per Capita Household Food and Non-food Consumption Expenditure (2004 and 2010) 8
6 Nigeria Living Standard Survey
7 Harmonized Nigeria Living Standard Survey
The decimal points are retained to differentiate between geopolitical zones
148
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
Family Size and Economic Welfare: Econometric Analysis of the Islamic Perspective
Nigeria's average family size in 2004 was about while South west recorded the least family size
4.83 per household which decreased to 4.65 in value of 3.63. Family size fell from 4.87 in 2004
2010 (Table 1). North-west has an average to 4.65 in 2010 in North central. North east
family size of 5.89, North east (5.41), North recorded a slight fall from 5.41 to 5.18; North
central (4.87), South east (4.53) and South-south West recorded a fall from 5.89 to 5.30, South .
(4.31), while South west accounts for the least east from 4.53 to 4.13, South-south from 4.31 to
family size of 3.58. On the other hand, in 2010, 4.03. Contrary to other geopolitical zones, South
the total household size in North west was 5.30, west recorded a marginal increase in family size
North east was 5.18, North central was 4.65, from 3.58 in 2004 to 3.63 in 2010, representing
South east was 4.13 and South-south was 4.03 1.4% increase.
Table 1: Famu·y1 S·ize Based on Geo-P0 liItirea I Zone
Geo-Political Household size (2004) House hold size (2010) % change
Zone Number of persons Number of persons
North central 4.87 4.65 -4.52
North east 5.41 5.18 -4.25
North west 5.89 5.30 -10.02
South east 4.53 4.13 -8.83
South south 4.31 4.03 -6.50
South west 3.58 3.63 1.40
Total 4.83 4.65 -3.73
Source: Author s Computations from NLSS (2004) and HNLSS (20/0)
There is no state religion in Nigeria but about 50% households have a larger family size compared to
of Nigerians are Muslims and 40% are Christians, Christian and traditional belief practitioners.
while 10 percent are of indigenous beliefs. Also, Specifically, Muslim households have a family
Nigerians are often strict about their religious size of about 6 or slightly more, Christian
practice and beliefs but the range of commitment, households have about 5 or slightly more, while a
belief and practice vary in each religion. However, traditional household would have a family size of
faith affects the composition of households as about 5 persons.
indicated in Table 2. In the table, Muslim
Table 2: Famu·v1 S·ize andHouseh0Ideharac tens. tlICS
Household Characteristics House hold size (2010)
Religion
Christian 5.59
Muslim 6.30
Traditional 5.31
Other 5.39
Either 6.47
Source: Author's Computations HNLSS (20/0)
From figure 2, household welfare as measured size 10 is associated with an average welfare
by per-capita food and non-food expenditure expenditure of N25,324.88. In other words, the
expectedly exhibits an inverse relationship as the higher the number of persons in a family the
number of household size increases. Households smaller the welfare represented by per capita
with just a person had an average household food consumption expenditure.
welfare expenditure of N134,51 1.89; household
size of 2 had an average household welfare
expenditure of N89,813.61, household size of 3
accounts for an average expenditure of
N65,974.89 and so on. In addition, household
149
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
~ Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
140000.0000
"cl:J 1••
1./.
RI :.:.:J"l:J .- 120000.0000
o0"0 c;
-"l:JQ1.1/ 100000.0000
"0 ~
J:. C
:~:J .•2•• 80000.0000o Q
J:. E.
- :::J 60000.0000
.•RsI.• c'8"
~"O 40000.0000
.Q- . 0
RUI~
o
•.. cI 20000.0000
QC.I.I 0C
0.0000
1 2 3 ~ouseRold sae 7 8 9 10
Source: Author's Computations HNLSS (2010)
Figure 2: Per capita total household food and non-food consumption expenditure
Literature Review and Theoretical Framework found in children in large families may be related
Review of Previous Studies to factors associated with economic duress, living
There are basically two views on the relationship in high-crime neighbourhoods and crowded!
between family size and household welfare. The inadequate housing, malnutrition, unemployment
first view posits a negative relationship between and parental stress (Rutter et al., 1976).
family size and household welfare. Specifically, Recent studies have also maintained that an
economists who belong to this school opine that increase in the number of children increases
larger households in terms of size are likely to family size and it appears to reduce the family's
experience less welfare compared to smaller standard of living and welfare, especially in young
households (Atreyi, 1972; Wray, 1971 and Rutter families with small children (Espenshade et al.,
et al., 1976). The second view argue that there is a 1983). This is due to larger families' need to
positive relationship between family size and devote more of their income to necessities, such as
household welfare asserting that households that food and clothing, and less to luxuries, like
are large in size are likely to experience an recreation. In a study on welfare of female headed
increased welfare due to economics of size. households, Deborah (1993) showed that female
Specifically, a family burdened with a large size headship is far more common than usually
would not be able to efficiently perform the believed in rural Ecuador; and household size is
functions of providing nurture and education and negatively related to family welfare. Large family
this may affect deleteriously not only the family's size is seen as a constraint to child education as
welfare but the welfare of the nation as a whole children from larger families are less likely to
(Atreyi, 1972). Also, a higher proportion of total receive schooling than those from smaller families
expenditure goes to food as family size .increases (Ray, 2000). More recent studies still posit the
and on the average, per capita expenditure for food negative relationship between household size and
falls significantly given an increment in family welfare (e.g. Jagannadha, 2010; Olawuyi and
size (Wray, 1971). In particular, the author shows Oladele, 2012). Jagannadha (2010) empirically
that families of six or more persons spend about showed that there exist a negative impact of
40 percent per person less than what three-person household size on welfare measured by per capia
families at every income level up to $15,000 consumption expenditure, while the squared of
spend. Also, larger family sizes tend to be poorer household size is positively related to welfare.
than smaller families. Most observed outcomes However, the household size squared term is
150
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
Family Size and Economic Welfare: Econometric Analysis of the Islamic Perspective
positive and increases across quintiles, indicating Analytical Framework
that households of larger size become worse off This paper considered the Barten (1964) theory of
along the quintiles, but at decreasing rates. Thus, a household welfare which incorporates household
convex relationship exists between household size size (number of persons in the household) and
and welfare, with households in the middle of the household composition (number of workers,
distribution showing the greatest negative effect of number of educated persons among others) in the
size on per-capita consumption. While Olawuyi determination of welfare. Welfare was modeled
and Oladele (op.cit) estimated the average using the extended equivalent scale measure in
household size in Oyo State to be 5.26 members, which the effect of household composition was
their study concluded that household size is incorporated in the household welfare function.
negatively related to household welfare in the The model posited that composition (such as the
state. addition of a child) may lead to changes in per
In contrast to the widespread negative capita household consumption or expenditure. To
relationship found between these two variables, a examine the impact of household size on
few studies have established a positive relationship household welfare, the modified Barten (1964)
between household size and household welfare. model was followed. Drawing from the theoretical
Prais and Houthakker (1955) showed that of two framework, we employ a parametric estimation of
households with same per capita expenditure, the household regression model specified in
larger household is better off, thus they tend to buy equation 1:
higher quality items that cost more per unit and w = a +y In n +E~~i1Jk '11k + S .V + J.l---1
have increased welfare. Similar findings were also f '1
drawn by Deaton (1997). Moussie et al. (1983) From the equation 1, Wfis household welfare, n is
noted that there are economies of size with respect the household size (number of people -in the
to food expenditure. They associated household household), '11k is the ratio to household size of
size with food expenditure variations in their '1
sample, specifically, they established a positive household members who fall in one of K groups
relationship that runs from household size to defined by number of educated children or number
household welfare and a one percent increase in of children working. This specification is designed
mean household size could result in a 0.529 to separate the effects of household size, n, from
percent increase in monthly food expenditures. household composition (number of educated
The coefficient suggests economies of size in food children or number of working children) as
expenditures at mean family size. represented by the ratio. The parameter y
The positive relationship between household corresponds to the conceptual experiment of
size and household welfare has been attributed to making a household larger by replication of both
weights attached to child and adult welfare people and resource. The vector v includes a
(Nelson, 1993; Lanjouw and Ravallion, 1995) in variety of variables (control variables such as
line with accounting for differences in intra- household socio-economic characteristics).
household resource allocation between children We endogenized birth spacing (number of
and adults. Thus, Kim et al. (2005) established years between child 2 and child 1 and number of
that the effect of a newly born child on household years between child 3 and child 2). Households
welfare per person is positive and statistically that engage in birth spacing are likely to
significant. This is because, using food share of experience a higher welfare, thus we expect a
household expenditure as a measure of household positive relationship between birth spacing and
welfare, a newly born child does not lower the household welfare. Household specific socio-
household welfare, thus a positive relationship economic characteristics are also included in the
exist between family size and household welfare. regression as these may affect household welfare.
Based on their results, they concluded that there is The regression specification of the household
no decisive evidence for the negative effect of welfare is specified in equation 2:
fertility on household welfare in the short run.
151
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
~ Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
lneWt) =
a +P1hsize + Y1edu_l_ckildt +Yzedu_2_childj + Y3 edu_3_childi + 0lw.orkinol_childf +
02workini/2_ckildi + 03working3_ckildi + Tf1MSjPj +1J2MS_Dyt + TJ3MS_SPt +
Tf4MS _Wi + 91birth_spacinyli + 92birth_spacinB2i +Afln _aBet+ 'Jrr;sexJnalei +
PiLocationi + wlRG_C~+-lA)2RG]i + tAJ3RG_Oi + p,~
--------2
where, To further investigate the impact of household
W= household welfare measured by household size on household welfare, we interact
total expenditure household size with education dummy (which
hsize = household size assumes the value of I if at least a child is
education_I_child = a dummy variable which educated and 0 if all children are not educated).
assumes the value of I if the first child is We also interacted children working (the value
educated and 0 otherwise of I is assumed if a child is working and 0
education_2_child = a dummy variable which otherwise) and child's education (if a child is
assumes the value of I if the second child is educated or not). The regression specification
educated and 0 otherwise with interacted dummy is shown in equation 3:
education_3_child = a dummy variable which In(WJ =Plhsizei +YiD_edu1j' D_wor~+Pihsizei ted1(childi + ~lMS)~t
assumes the value of I if the third child is q2MU~+qlMUPi+ q4MSJ~~+ 91b~th_spacinBlj +B2birth_spacinB2 teducated and 0 otherwise i
working I_child = a dummy variable which 1iln_aBet t Jtisex_malej t Ej
assumes the value of I if the first child is -----3
working and zero otherwise
working2 _child = a dummy variable which Drawing from the theory of household welfare,
assumes the value of I if the second child is we expect household size to be negatively
working and zero otherwise related to household welfare, while the
working3 _child = a dummy variable which interaction between household size and
assumes the value of I if the third child is education of the child to be positively related to
working and zero otherwise household welfare. This is true in most
D_edu * D_work = interaction dummy between developing society, because children act as a
an educated child and a working child working. buffer to current and future household
This tells if a child is both educated and working consumption and welfare. Education of the first
hsize * child edu = interaction between child, second' and third is expected to be
household size and education of children positively related to household welfare. In the
MS_IF = marital status (informal union) same vein, households with working child (first,
MS_DV = marital status (Divorced) second or third) are expected to have a higher
MS_SP = marital status (Separated) welfare. Birth spacing is also expected to
MS_W = marital status (Widow) increase household welfare. The study employed
birth_sepI= birth spacing (number of years) the Harmonized Nigeria Living Standard Survey
between the first child and the second (HNLSS) of 2009/2010. The choice of this data
birth_sep2 = birth spacing (number of years) set is based on the fact that it accommodates all
between the second child and the third the needed variables to estimate the model.
age =age of household head
sex_male = sex of household head Estimation Technique
location = If household resides in urban or rural To determine the effect of family size on
area household welfare, we employed both bivariate
RG_C = Household head religion (Christian) and multivariate analysis. The bivariate analysis
RG_T = Household head religion (Traditional) tests for the association between household
RG_0 = Household head religion (Others) welfare, family size and other independent
152
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
Family Size and Economic Welfare: Econometric Analysis of the Islamic Perspective
variables were considered in the model. As per capita expenditure and with three educated
earlier stated the two measures of household children is N54191.46 (27.45%) expenditure per
welfare (per capita expenditure) were tested if an capita.
association exits with the independent variables. Households of size 6 with no child educated
The bivariate analysis enables one to see how have an expenditure per capita of N36701.25
each of the factors relates 'with a particular issue (21.10%) and households with only a child
of interest without considering other factors. educated will have expenditure per capita of
However, the main disadvantage is that the N41285.56 (23.74%). In like manner,
impact of other factors are not controlled for; households of same size with 2 and 3 children
hence, bivariate analysis are prone to errors. To educated have expenditure per capita of
correct for this problem, a multivariate analysis N44883.312 (25.81%) and N51028.94 (29.34%),
that simultaneously tests for the impact of respectively. This goes on to size 8 with same
independent variables on household welfare was result. But after that, this relationship became
also employed. To determine the relationship incosistent. Hence, for household size 9 and 10,
between the dependent variable which is the result changed. Households of size 9 have a
continuous and the right hand side variables, the total income per capita of N138767.99. From
ordinary least square technique (OLS) is this, households with no child educated have an
employed. income per capita of N34323.618 (24.73%),
with only a child educated have an income per
Result Presentation and Discussion capita of N33690.15 (24.27%). In the same
Household Size, Educated Children and manner, household with 2 and 3 educated
Welfare children have an income per capita of
Table 3 presents the relationship between N33044.28 (23.81%) and N37709.94 (27.17%)
household size, number of educated children and respectively.
household welfare in Nigeria. The analysis Considering households of size 10 with no
considers households with at most three children child educated on the average, their per capita
education. From the table, household size of 5 income amount to N38645.19 and those with
with no child educated has expenditure per just a child educated account for income per
capita of N41659.53 (21.10%). Household of capita of N34877.22. In the same manner,
same size but with just a child educated account households of size 10 with 2 and 3 children
for N48389.18 (24.51%) expenditure per capita, educated have an income per capita of 35989.77
with 2 children educated is N53168.99 (26.93%) and 38495.83 respectively.
Tabl e 3: Tb e Relatiions b"lp between House b0ld size, Nurnbero fEd ucate d Cb"Ild ren an d WeIfar e
Number of Educated Child/Children
o (none) 1 2 3 Total
5 41659.5383 48389.1852 53168.9982 54191.4696 197409.1913
(21.1031) (24.5121) (26.9334) (27.4513)
6 36701.251 41285.5691 44883.3124 51028.9489 173899.0814
•.. (21.1049) (23.7411) (25.81) (29.344)
N 7 32787.4058 40423.5977 41309.3753 48159.1786 162679.5574
fi3 (20.1546) (24.8486) (25.3931) (29.6037)
"Q
'"S 8 32862.9153 36333.5101 39753.5226 43249.6822 152199.6302.•c• (21.592) (23.8723) (26.1193) (28.4164)='e" 9 34323.6181 33690.1519 33044.2804 37709.9457 138767.9961::::: (24.7345) (24.278) (23.8126) (27.1748)
10 38645.1994 34877.2226 35989.7775 38495.8354 148008.0349
(26.1102) (23.5644) (24.3161) (26.0093)
Total 37500.8494 42915.9125 45351.1487 47620.4263 173388.3369
(21.6282) (24.7513) (26.1558) (27.4646)
Note. Values In parenthesis represent percentages. -y
Source: Author's Computation; with underlying data from HNLSS 200912010 survey
9 Note percentages (row percentage) represent the percentage of income/welfare (per capita expenditure) by
each household size
153
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
~ Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
Regression Analysis significantly related to household welfare. In the
Drawing from previous sections, we examine the same way, the sex of household head is also not
impact of household size on household welfare significantly related to household welfare. In
in Nigeria. In Table 4, a total of 7919 contrast the age of household head, location and
households are considered. Specifically, the religion are significantly related to household
result shows that households with first, second welfare, thus they are significant determinants of
or third child educated will have increase household welfare. Specifically, older
welfare compared to households with no child households may experience a lower welfare.
educated. The relationship between the Households in urban areas will experience a
education of first, second and third child and higher welfare compared to households in rural
household welfare is positive and statistically areas. This is consistent with various studies on
significant. This implies that welfare will household welfare (Anyawu, 2013).
increase by 0.045 if the first child is educated. To examine further the impact of household
Households with second and third child size on welfare, we interacted education and
educated will experience an increase of 0.04 and child working and household size with educated
0.038 in household welfare. On the contrary, the children. From the result, interactions between
relationship between third child education and children education and children working are
household welfare is not statistically significant, statistically significant for first and second child,
therefore welfare is not affected by the education while the effect of third child is not statistically
of the third child. significant. Specifically, a positive and statisti-
The result shows that a positive relationship cally significant relationship exist between
exists between household welfare and first child household welfare and first child educated and
working. Going by this we conclude that working compared to families with first child
households with first child working will not educated and not working. The result shows
experience a higher welfare compare to that household we1fare will increase by.0.071 for
households with no child working. The welfare households that have first child educated and are
of households with first child working will working. Similarly, there is also a positive and
increase by 0.03 compared to households with significant relationship between second child's
first child not working. The result is in tandem educational attainment and household welfare.
with our apriori expectation of a positive Household welfare tends to rise by 0.03 for
relationship between first child working and households with second child educated and
welfare of households. In most sub-Saharan working compared to households with second
countries household members tend to rely on child not working and not educated. In summary
first child compared to second and third, the result shows that households with more
therefore a working first child may increase educated children will experience increase in
household welfare. The result for second and household welfare compared to households with
third child working is not significantly related to no child educated.
household welfare, thus we conclude that We examine further the impact of a large
household welfare does not change significantly and educated household size on household
in households with second or third child welfare. To do this, household size and the
working. educational qualification of household's
Suffice to say, birth spacing between the child/children are interacted. The interaction
first and second child is not a significant factor term between household size and educational
affecting household welfare, however there exist qualification of children is statistically
a significant and negative relationship between significant at 10 percent leveL The significant
birth spacing (between the second and third relationship is in tandem with our apriori
child) and household welfare. The impacts of expectation. The relationship implies that larger
specific household characteristics are also households that have at least a child educated
examined on household welfare. It is evident will have a higher welfare compared to
that marital status of households is not
154
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
Family Size and Economic Welfare: Econometric Analysis of the Islamic Perspective
households with a larger size but no child individual family and aggregate economic
educated. welfare can be guaranteed.
Conclusions
From the findings, household size without
considering educated or working children has a
negative effect on household welfare. However,
household size when the number of educated or
working children is taken into account is
positively related to household welfare. This
suggests that a large sized household with more
educated children will attain a higher welfare
compared to a small household with no child
educated. This implies that Allah does not want
humans to procreate without seeking knowledge.
Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) admonishes his
followers to seek knowledge by telling them that
knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim.'"
Allah in the Quran also instructs Prophet
Muhammad and by extension Muslims in
particular and other people in general not only to
seek knowledge but also pray for its increase
(Q20:114). Also, households with first and
second child working will attain a higher welfare
compared to another household with no child
working.
Based on these findings, we recommend that
government should concentrate on policies to
improve the education sector rather than waste
resources on population control. This focus
should lead to a critical mass of educated people
among the populace who are needed to produce
scientific knowledge, inventions and innovations
which will add to the economic wealth 'of the
country, increase the welfare of families and
generate overall development in the country.
Therefore, this piece of research has used
economic analysis to explain the Qur'an verses
that taught humans how to deal with population
and how to educate such population, and has
shown that Allah does not favour the type of
population control that the world is embarking
on, rather He wants humans to procreate and at
the same time seek knowledge in education to
master their environment. There is need for
government to focus on policies, programmes
and strategies to increase access to education .
including functional ones as well as create
enviroment for employment generation so that
10 AI-Tirmidhi, Hadith 74
155
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
~ Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
Table 4: Re2reSSIOn Resu It
Panel 1- Without interaction Panel 2- With interaction
Hsize -0.062*** -
(0.004)
edu _I_child 0.045*** -
(0.017)
edu_2_child 0.04** -
(0.018)
edu_3_child 0.038** -
(0.015)
working I_child 0.028** -
(0.012)
working2 _child -0.00039 -
(0.013)
working3 _child -0.008 -
(0.012)
D_edu_l * D_work_ 1 - 0.071 ***
(0.014)
D_edu_2 * D_work_2 - 0.030**
(0.015)
D_edu_3 * D_work_3 - 0.022
(0.016)
Numb_hh * child_edu - 0.004*
(0.002)
D_edu_l * D_work 1 -
MS_IF 0.134 0.164*
(0.093) (0.099)
MS_DV 0.177 0.28**
(0.13 1) (0.138)
MS_SP 0.033 0.13
(0.081) (0.086)
MS_W 0.Q2 0.088*
(0.044) (0.047)
birth _spacing 1 -0.002 -0.002
(0.002) (0.002)
birth _ spacing2 -0.003*· -0.005***
(0.001) (0.001)
Lnage 0.034 -
(0.025)
Sex_male 0.029 -
(0.041)
Location 0.201 *** -
(0.013)
RG_Christian 0.156*** -
(0.013)
RG_Tradition 0.092* -
(0.049)
RG_Other 0.048 -
(0.085)
Constant 10.62*** -
(0.Q98)
No. of respondent 7919 7919
R-square 0.1209 0.0167
Adjusted R-square 0.1188 0.0152
F-statistics 57.16 (0.000) 11.19 (0.000)
Note: *, ** and *** represent SIgnificance at 10%, 5% and 1% respectively. Values In parenthesis are for standard errors
Source: Author's Computation; with underlying data from HNLSS 200912010 survey
References Working Paper Series No. 180 African
Anyawu, J.c. 2013. Marital Status, Household Size and Development Bank, Tunis, Tunisia.
Poverty in Nigeria: Evidence from the 200912010 Arthur, J.L. 2005. Family Size and Its Socio-Economic
Survey Data. African Development Bank Group. Implications in the Sunyani Municipality of the
Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana, West Africa.
156
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
Family Size and Economic Welfare: Econometric Analysis of the Islamic Perspective
Center for development Studies, Ghana. Demography Austrian Academy of Sciences.
Unpublished. Working Paper ..
Barten, A.P. 1964. Family Composition, Prices and Krishnaji, N. 1984. Family size, levels of living and
Expenditure Patterns in Econometric Analysis for differential mortality in rural India. Econ. Political
National Economic Planning, edited by Peter E. Weekly, Rev. Agric.
Hart, Gordon Mills, and John K. Whitaker. Lanjouw, P. and Ravallion, M. 1995. Poverty and
London: Butterworths. Household Size. Econ. J. 105: 1415-34.
EI-Badry, M.A. 1967. A Study of Differential Fertility Olawuyi, S.O. and Oladele, S. 2012. Social Capital and
in Bombay. Demography 4: 626-640. Rural Households Welfare in Surulere Local
Espenshade, T.J. 1985. Marriage Trend in America: Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Estimates Implications, and Underlying Causes". Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary
Population and Development Review, 11: 193-246. Research In Business. 3: 11.
Fafchamps, M. and Shilpi, F. 2012. Determinants of Prais, S. and Houthakker, H. 1955. The Analysis of
the Choice of Migration Destination.Oxford Family Budgets. Cambridge: Cambridge
Bulletin of Economics and Statistics. ISSN 0305- University Press, 2nd ed. 1972 edn.
9049 (In Press). Ray, R. 2000. Poverty, Household Size and Child
Himaz, R. and Aturupane, H. 20 II. Education and Welfare in India. Economic and Political Weekly.
Household Welfare in Sri Lanka from 1985 35: 3511-3520.
to2006.Economics Series Working Papers 527, Rutter, M. & Madge, N. 1987. Cycles of disadvantage.
University of Oxford, Department of Economics. London: Heinemann.
Jagannadha, P.T. 2010. Entrepreneurship and Welfare. World Bank. 2009. Data retrieved January 2, 2014,
Small Business Economics, Vol. 34, No. I, Special from World Development.
Issue: Entrepreneurship, Developing Countries and • Wray, J.D. (Population Pressure on Families: Family
Development Economics. pp. 65-79. Size and Child Spacing In National Academy of
Kim, J. et al. 2005. Does Fertility Decrease the Welfare Science, Rapid Population Growth. BuTtimore:
of Households? An Analysis of Poverty Dynamics Johns Hopkins Press, 1: 403-462.
and Fertility in Indonesia.Vienna Institute of Yahya, S.N. 1985. Gardens of the Righteous. tran.
Khan M.Z. IF Press: Lebanon.
157
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY