| Women’s education and fertility transition in
sub-Saharan Africa |
| Authors: |
David Shapiro |
| Source: |
Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, Vol.10, pp. 9-30, DOI: 10.1553/populationyearbook2012s009 |
| Topic(s): |
Fertility
Women's status
|
| Country: |
Africa
Multiple African Countries
|
| Published: |
JUN 2012 |
| Abstract: |
Sub-Saharan Africa was the last major part of the developing world to experience
fertility decline, and fertility in the region remains high compared to fertility in
Asia and Latin America. Correspondingly, women’s education, known to be an
important factor related to fertility via multiple pathways, is comparatively low in
the region. Numerous studies have documented the importance of increasing
women’s education as a key variable contributing to fertility decline in the
developing world. This paper uses aggregated data to examine the role of
increasing women’s educational attainment in the ongoing fertility transition in
sub-Saharan Africa, in conjunction with other socioeconomic changes such as
declining infant and child mortality and changes in economic well-being. In
addition, detailed patterns of fertility differences by educational attainment are
also examined across countries using individual-level data, highlighting the
significant role in fertility transition of increasing secondary and higher education. |
| Web: |
http://econ.la.psu.edu/papers/Women's%20Education%20and%20Fertility%20Transition%20in%20Sub-Saharan%20Africa%20-%20Oct%20%20%2011.pdf |
|