"Geographic Mortality Differentials and the Quality-Quantity Trade-off": Paper by Sinara Gharibyan et al. out now

New open access article by Sinara Gharibyan (IOS, Regensburg), David Gomtsyan (CREI, Barcelona) and Èric Roca Fernández (CERDI, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand) in the top-tier Journal of Population Economics: “Geographic Mortality Differentials and the Quality-Quantity Trade-off”.

The paper explores the relationship between geographic mortality differentials and human capital investment patterns in the Malthusian setup of 19th-century Armenia. The authors examine how variations in altitude are associated with mortality rates, human capital accumulation, and fertility decisions. Using detailed historical census and parish records, they document that higher-altitude areas tend to have lower population density, lower respiratory disease mortality, and lower overall mortality. The empirical analysis also shows that individuals in these environments tend to display better numeracy skills and lower fertility rates. These findings align with the Ben-Porath hypothesis, suggesting that longer life horizons encourage shifting from child quantity to quality. Furthermore, these patterns are not driven by income differences or increased female autonomy arising from pastoral agriculture.

Sinara Gharibyan, David Gomtsyan, Èric Roca Fernández: Geographic Mortality Differentials and the Quality-Quantity Trade-off. In: Journal of Population Economics, 39:2, 2026. DOI: 10.1007_s00148-026-01175-x