DOES PARENTAL EDUCATION AFFECT FERTILITY RATES? EVIDENCES FROM PAKISTAN (1976-2010)

Abstract

            The study empirically examines the relationship b/w parental education and fertility for Pakistan from 1976-2010. We have employed Johenson Cointegration and Error correction model to test the long run as well as short run relationship. Results show that infant mortality rate and old age dependency increase the fertility while per capita income, urbanization and education of both male and female reduce the fertility. The impact of male education on fertility is smaller than that of female education. The possible choices for lowering fertility rate are both implementing low infant mortality rate and promoting female education policies. Lowering fertility rate through increasing access to quality reproductive health services is an important policy.