Higher education and fertility : evidence from a natural experiment in Ethiopia

M. Tequame; J.N. Tirivayi

doi:10.2139/SSRN.2637960

Higher education and fertility : evidence from a natural experiment in Ethiopia

M. Tequame, J.N. Tirivayi

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Abstract

This paper studies the effect of women's higher education on fertility outcomes in Ethiopia. We exploit an abrupt increase in the supply of tertiary education induced by a liberalisation policy. Using an age discontinuity in the exposure to higher education reform, we find that education lowers fertility by 8% and increases the likelihood of never giving birth by 25%. We explore the role of potential underlying
mechanisms and find that this negative effect on fertility is channelled through positive assortative mating and the postponement of marriage and motherhood.

Original language	English
Place of Publication	Maastricht
Publisher	UNU-MERIT
Number of pages	42
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2139/SSRN.2637960
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2015

Publication series

Series	UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Number	019

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Higher education and fertility : evidence from a natural experiment in Ethiopia

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