The Impact of Education on Fertility
In the last 20 years, there has been concern about the decrease in fertility, or the amount of children being born, around the world. It is well-known that the Total Fertility Rate (TFR), or the number of children per woman, has decreased to below two children in many developed countries like Japan and Korea. One possible reason for this decrease in fertility could be the rise in female education, which is explored in a recent article by Jungho Kim. The author wanted to confirm whether an increase in female education is indeed correlated with decreased fertility rates. He measured the difference in fertility rates between women who were uneducated, attended primary school, and attended secondary school.
Women with primary education have 30% fewer children than uneducated women, and this rate further decreases another 10-50% if they have secondary education. Although this statistic is significant, it still does not explain how female education impacts the TFR. In Kim’s investigation, the impact of education on fertility was less in higher income countries, suggesting a complex relationship between female education and the TFR.
One idea is that highly educated women tend to have jobs, so they have fewer children in order to continue working and earn money. Assuming education is correlated to wage, the author then investigated the effect of female education levels in comparison to male education on fertility. They found as female education reached the same level as male education, fertility decreased from six children per woman to two, supporting the initial hypothesis that as women receive more education and earn higher wages, they have fewer children.
However, one opposing opinion is that it isn’t female employment that causes the decrease in fertility. An example of this can be seen in some countries like India or Israel, where increased education did not lead to higher female employment, but women with higher education tended to spend more time giving their children quality education. As a result, more educated parents with higher incomes choose to give their resources to only a few children, as opposed to relying on many children to make money for the family, decreasing the overall fertility rate.
Women with primary education have 30% fewer children than uneducated women, and this rate further decreases another 10-50% if they have secondary education. Although this statistic is significant, it still does not explain how female education impacts the TFR. In Kim’s investigation, the impact of education on fertility was less in higher income countries, suggesting a complex relationship between female education and the TFR.
One idea is that highly educated women tend to have jobs, so they have fewer children in order to continue working and earn money. Assuming education is correlated to wage, the author then investigated the effect of female education levels in comparison to male education on fertility. They found as female education reached the same level as male education, fertility decreased from six children per woman to two, supporting the initial hypothesis that as women receive more education and earn higher wages, they have fewer children.
However, one opposing opinion is that it isn’t female employment that causes the decrease in fertility. An example of this can be seen in some countries like India or Israel, where increased education did not lead to higher female employment, but women with higher education tended to spend more time giving their children quality education. As a result, more educated parents with higher incomes choose to give their resources to only a few children, as opposed to relying on many children to make money for the family, decreasing the overall fertility rate.
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Lastly, the author investigated the idea that women with education use contraceptives more often, and therefore higher contraceptive use leads to lower fertility rates. Using surveys from over 68 countries with differing education levels among women, it was found that a 20% increase in contraceptive use consequently resulted in a 20% decrease in the TFR. These results were paired with another study in Indonesia from the 1970s to 1990s, where it was found that the presence of family planning clinics in combination with increased female education played a role in decreasing the fertility rate. This suggests that education was not the sole factor in the increased use of contraceptives. To further support this idea, another study in Romania found that uneducated women used abortion services more often than educated women.
Thus, while education may not directly result in the use of more contraceptives, it may give women more empowerment to make their own decisions, and hence increase their use of contraceptives. Overall, although education and contraceptive use are indeed correlated with lower fertility rates, secondary effects such as the effect of education on the home, or contraceptive availability, may play a more direct role.
Thus, while education may not directly result in the use of more contraceptives, it may give women more empowerment to make their own decisions, and hence increase their use of contraceptives. Overall, although education and contraceptive use are indeed correlated with lower fertility rates, secondary effects such as the effect of education on the home, or contraceptive availability, may play a more direct role.
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