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On the fertility transition in Africa: Income, child mortality, or education?

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  • Anthony Mveyange

Abstract

A consensus among social scientists is that fertility rates in Africa are declining. What determines these declines? I present fresh evidence that shows education, especially for women, is an important determinant of the fertility transition in Africa. This finding is consistent with the predictions of the unified growth theory and sheds important insights in explaining the sustained income growth Africa has experienced since 1995.

Suggested Citation

  • Anthony Mveyange, 2015. "On the fertility transition in Africa: Income, child mortality, or education?," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2015-089, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2015-089
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