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The impact of female education on fertility: evidence from Malawi Universal Primary Education program

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  • Tianheng Wang

    (School of Economics, Xi'an University of Finance and Economics, Xi'an)

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of female education on fertility outcomes by using the Universal Primary Education (UPE) program in Malawi as a natural experiment. The finding indicates that the UPE policy improves rural women's educational attainment by 0.42 years and an additional year of female education decreases women's number of children ever born and the number of living children by 0.39 and 0.34, respectively. An analysis of potential mechanisms suggests that the decreased fertility rates are likely driven by the reduction in women's fertility preferences, the postponement of marriage, and the delay of motherhood. Contrarily, the study finds no evidence that increased female education affects women's labor force participation and the use of modern contraception.

Suggested Citation

  • Tianheng Wang, 2025. "The impact of female education on fertility: evidence from Malawi Universal Primary Education program," JODE - Journal of Demographic Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 91(3), pages 378-406, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:ctl:louvde:v:91:y:2025:i:3:p:378-406
    DOI: 10.1017/dem.2024.3
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    JEL classification:

    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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