Literacy transition and female nuptiality: implications for fertility in Pakistan

"This paper is an attempt to examine trends and differentials in education and age at marriage of males and females [in Pakistan] and then relate the two variables to one important aspect of demographic behaviour, namely fertility, and evaluate the implication of these relationships on reduction of fertility in Pakistan." The data are from the 1981 census and the 1979-1980 Population, Labour Force and Migration (PLM) Survey. "Given the limitations of the survey data which pertain to a sample of ever-married women between the ages of 15 and 49 years, the main conclusions of the study are that a rise in female age at marriage and education at secondary and higher levels are important in affecting fertility levels." Policy implications of the findings are discussed. Comments by Akhtar Hasan Khan are included (pp. 601-3).