Status Enhancement and Fertility

Book excerpt: Status Enhancement and Fertility: Reproductive Responses to Social Mobility and Educational Opportunity provides a theoretical framework in which research findings on the socioeconomic determinants of fertility may be integrated. Starting with an introductory chapter on the substantive scope of the book, separate chapters provide a detailed review, appraisal, and synthesis of the complex research literature on social mobility and fertility; examine various statistical methodologies and suggest some fruitful avenues future research might pursue; and discuss the role of education in enhancing the status of women and the main intervening variables that link education to reproductive behavior. Subsequent chapters examines female labor force participation, the value of children, infant and child mortality, age at marriage and first birth, and family planning knowledge and practice. The final chapter discusses policy issues derived from models and assessments presented in the preceding chapters. This book may be used as an upper division or graduate level text in population courses.