Regional heterogeneity and fertility behaviour in India

Christophe Guilmoto () and S. Irudaya Rajan
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S. Irudaya Rajan: Centre for Development Studies

Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum Working Papers from Centre for Development Studies, Trivendrum, India

Abstract: This paper examines regional heterogeneity both from statistical and cartographic perspectives, using factor analysis of non-demographic data, models of fertility determinants and district-wise mapping to test out the presence of regional clustering. Regional analysis reveals that economic, social and health indicators display spatial patterns as strong as fertility rates. All recent models of fertility incorporate a significant geographical component (using dummy regional variables or auto-correlation measurements). The map of fertility decline spreading along culturally and spatially contiguous regions also suggests that diffusion mechanisms may play an independent role in the spread of new reproductive behaviour (small family norm). Though diffusion per se, no real explanation for the fast decline of fertility in Southern or Coastal India (what would then be the cause of diffusion in the first place?), it would definitely be important to understand how these mechanisms are facilitated by social and cultural homogeneity or by regional policies.

Keywords: Fertility; South India; diffusion; heterogeneity; family planning; reproductive behaviour; coastal India; infant mortality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 I28 J11 J13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 46 pages
Date: 1998-11
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Regional Heterogeneity and Fertility Behaviour in India (2010)
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