Social Development, Cultural Change & Fertility Decline

Low fertility rates are usually associated with high levels of economic development. The Indian state of Kerala is an exception -- despite a comparatively low level of economic development, the fertility rate is declining rapidly. This book studies the determinants of declining fertility rates.

The authors have developed a model -- applicable to other regions in the developing world -- which focuses on social development and cultural change as causes of declining fertility and, more importantly, an improvement in the quality of life.