Lithium-ion batteries and fertility in Africa
研究了全球锂离子电池普及如何影响刚果（金）钴矿丰富地区女性的生育选择，发现钴矿村女性生育率更高，因为儿童参与采矿短期内增加家庭财富，促使父母多生孩子。
Abstract This study investigates how the global adoption of modern electrical batteries influenced women’s fertility choices in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country rich in cobalt, an essential component of lithium-ion batteries. The findings reveal that women living in cobalt-rich villages experience higher fertility rates and a greater desire for children relative to those in non-cobalt-rich communities. I attribute this phenomenon to the use of children in cobalt mines, as opposed to other mineral mining activities, which leads to a short-term increase in household wealth and motivates parents to have more children. These results provide novel insights into our understanding of the complex relationship between economic development, natural resources, and fertility decisions in developing economies.