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Foreign Aid and Adolescent Fertility Rate: Cross-Country Evidence

Author

Listed:
  • Zhuang Hong

    (Judd Leighton School of Business and Economics, Indiana University South Bend, 1700 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend, IN 46634, USA)

  • Wang Miao

    (Economics Department Marquette University, PO Box 1881, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881, USA)

  • Daniels Joseph

    (Economics Department Marquette University, PO Box 1881, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881, USA)

Abstract

This study examines the role of official development assistance (ODA) in affecting adolescent fertility rates in low- and middle-income countries. Approximately 95% of adolescent births occur in middle- and low-income countries, and the average adolescent fertility rate in low-income countries is five times higher than in high-income countries. Aid donors typically pursue multiple objectives when providing development aid, many of which can go beyond changes in per capita GDP and include human capital factors such as adolescent fertility and infant mortality. Using data over the period from 1995 to 2015, our results suggest that total ODA has a beneficial impact by lowering the adolescent fertility rate either directly or through the channel of income growth. Our results also show that this beneficial effect on the adolescent fertility rate is stronger in low-income countries than in middle-income countries. Findings based on sectoral aid suggest that health aid has a stronger effect than aid in other sectors.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhuang Hong & Wang Miao & Daniels Joseph, 2020. "Foreign Aid and Adolescent Fertility Rate: Cross-Country Evidence," Journal of Globalization and Development, De Gruyter, vol. 11(1), pages 1-35, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:globdv:v:11:y:2020:i:1:p:35:n:2
    DOI: 10.1515/jgd-2018-0051
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    Cited by:

    1. Miao Wang & Hong Zhuang, 2022. "Effect of official development assistance on adolescent fertility rate: within-country evidence," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 42(2), pages 566-590.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    adolescent fertility; development aid; development goals; official development assistance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F35 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Aid
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development

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