How rapid decline in fertility speeds economic development : evidence from Asia

Abstract:

A new study finds that family planning efforts appear to have been instrumental in bringing down birth rates in Indonesia, Korea, and Thailand. In turn, lower birth rates have had important effects on the age structure of these countries, their investment in schooling, the level of saving, and the growth of per capita income and gross national product. The study provides evidence that the rapid pace of economic growth is in part a consequence of successful family planning efforts.