Welcome back to the Virtual Australian Health & Human Capital Economics Seminar Series, which goes into its second year. This event is organised by A/Professor Victoria Baranov (UMelb), Dr Sarah Walker (UNSW), Professor Stefanie Schurer (USyd), Dr Rebecca McKibbin (USyd), Professor Adeline Delavande (UTS), and Professor Brenda Gannon (UQ).

The seminar series is open to the public. Sign up HERE for mailing list.

Fertility and the Education of Parents and Children in Africa

Presented by

Tom Vogl

Wednesday 22 June 2022

10.00am – 11.00pm

Zoom Link: https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/j/89575162009

Abstract: Sub-Saharan Africa exhibits higher fertility and lower education than the rest of the world. Economic and demographic theory posit that these phenomena are linked in a common decision problem, so that fertility decline coincides with education growth among both adults and children. Using microdata from 33 African countries, this paper documents how adult education, fertility, and child investment coevolve across successive female birth cohorts within countries or sub-national regions. Fertility decline is associated with growth in children’s grade attainment but not enrollment. The discordance is mirrored by a split in how trends in women’s education relate to trends in fertility and child outcomes. Rising women’s education predicts declining fertility and rising children’s grade attainment but is unrelated to enrollment growth.

For further information regarding this seminar and Virtual Australian Health & Human Capital Economics Seminar Series, please contact Professor Stefanie Schurer (stefanie.schurer@sydney.edu.au)