Education and Fertility: Evidence from a Policy Change in Kenya

Luke Chicoine

No 6778, IZA Discussion Papers from IZA Network @ LISER

Abstract: This paper investigates the relationship between women's education and fertility by exploiting a 1985 policy change in Kenya that lengthened primary school by one year. An instrumental variables approach measures the exogenous variation in treatment intensity across birth cohorts. The reform led to an increase in education, a delay in marriage, and reduced fertility beginning at the age of 20. The effect on fertility becomes increasingly negative through age 25. The findings suggest that postponement of marriage, reduction in the marital education gap, and increased early use of modern contraceptives contribute to reduced fertility. These results are consistent with women having greater control over their fertility decision.

Keywords: fertility; education; Kenya (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I25 J13 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 63 pages
Date: 2012-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr, nep-dem, nep-dev and nep-lab
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (28)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6778

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