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Education and reproductive health: evidence from schooling expansion in Turkey

Author

Listed:
  • Prabal K. De

    (CUNY City College and Graduate Center)

  • Muhammed Tümay

    (Gumushane University)

Abstract

We investigate the role of additional years of schooling mandated by a compulsory schooling expansion law in affecting reproductive preferences and safe reproductive health behaviors in Turkey—a middle-to-high-income country with gender inequity in education but overall high levels of safe reproductive health practices at the time of passing the law. Using a fuzzy regression discontinuity design, we find that the additional schooling improved several health behaviors. However, the effects on some outcomes commonly analyzed in the existing literature, such as contraceptive use or fertility, were either weak or insignificant. Overall, our findings complement the current literature on the marginal health benefits of schooling expansion and suggest that policymakers consider the institutional and cultural factors while evaluating the scope and potential non-educational benefits of such expansions.

Suggested Citation

  • Prabal K. De & Muhammed Tümay, 2024. "Education and reproductive health: evidence from schooling expansion in Turkey," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 301-331, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:ijhcfe:v:24:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s10754-023-09364-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10754-023-09364-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Education; Reproductive health; Turkey;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I00 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - General - - - General
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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