The fertility decline in the United States: Schooling and income

Casper Worm Hansen; Peter Sandholt Jensen; Lars Lønstrup

doi:10.1017/S136510051600081X

The fertility decline in the United States: Schooling and income

Casper Worm Hansen, Peter Sandholt Jensen, Lars Lønstrup

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study investigates the determinants of the fertility transition in the United States from 1850 to the end of the 20th century. We find a robust negative relation between years of schooling and fertility. The magnitude of our baseline estimate suggests that the rise in schooling accounts for about 60% of the US fertility decline. In contrast, we find no evidence of a robust relation between income per capita and fertility. This pattern corroborates theories stressing the importance of human capital investments in generating a transition from high to low fertility.

Original language	Danish
Journal	Macroeconomic Dynamics
Volume	22
Issue number	6
Pages (from-to)	1584-1612
ISSN	1365-1005
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S136510051600081X
Publication status	Published - 1 Sept 2018

Keywords

Faculty of Social Sciences
Fertility Transition
Schooling
Income
US States

Access to Document

10.1017/S136510051600081X

Cite this

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abstract = "This study investigates the determinants of the fertility transition in the United States from 1850 to the end of the 20th century. We find a robust negative relation between years of schooling and fertility. The magnitude of our baseline estimate suggests that the rise in schooling accounts for about 60% of the US fertility decline. In contrast, we find no evidence of a robust relation between income per capita and fertility. This pattern corroborates theories stressing the importance of human capital investments in generating a transition from high to low fertility.",

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AB - This study investigates the determinants of the fertility transition in the United States from 1850 to the end of the 20th century. We find a robust negative relation between years of schooling and fertility. The magnitude of our baseline estimate suggests that the rise in schooling accounts for about 60% of the US fertility decline. In contrast, we find no evidence of a robust relation between income per capita and fertility. This pattern corroborates theories stressing the importance of human capital investments in generating a transition from high to low fertility.

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KW - Schooling

KW - Income

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KW - Income

KW - US States

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