The fertility decline in the United States: Schooling and income

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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 languageDanish
JournalMacroeconomic Dynamics
Volume22
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)1584-1612
ISSN1365-1005
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2018

ID: 222751101