Study: “Research Program on the Impact of Reproductive Health and Population Dynamics on Economic Development”
PI(s): Canning, David
Co-PI(s): Bloom, David; Fink, Günther; Finlay, Jocelyn
Affiliation(s): Harvard University
Institutional Partner(s): Hewlett Foundation Grant
Project Dates:
Start: 2008
End: 2010
Data Source(s): Pooled DHS
Methods: Descriptive Statistics, Cross-National Regression Models
Geographic Location(s): Cross-Country Analysis (China and India)

Description:
Several subprojects were produced as a result of this research program. One paper analyzes the distribution of fertility rates across the world using parametric mixture models. This research demonstrates the existence of twin peaks and the division of the world’s countries in two distinct components: a high-fertility regime and a low-fertility regime. The findings are difficult to reconcile with the standard view of a fertility trap but they support the “differentiated take-off” view established in the Unified Growth literature. Another subproject examined economic evaluations of health interventions.

Research Outputs:
Bärnighausen, Till, Bloom, David E., Canning, David, Friedman, Abigail, Levine, Orin, O’Brien, Jennifer, Privor-Dumm, Lois & Walker, Damian. (2010). Rethinking the benefits and costs of childhood vaccination: the example of the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine. Vaccine, 29(2011), 2371-2380.

Bloom, David, Canning, David & Fink, Gunther. (2014). Disease and Development Revisited. Journal of Political Economy, 122(6): 1355-1366. DOI: 10.1086/677189

Bloom, David E. & Canning, David. (2009). Population Health and Economic Growth. In Michael Spence and Maureen Lewis (Eds.), Health and Growth (53-76). Washington, DC: World Bank.

Bloom, David E. & Canning, David. (2009). Population, poverty reduction, and the Cairo Agenda. In Mindy Roseman and Laura Reichenbach (Eds.), Reproductive health and human rights: the way forward (51-59). Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press.

Bloom, David E., Canning, David, Günther, Isabel & Linnemayr, Sebastian. (2008). Social interactions and fertility in developing countries (Program on the Global Demography of Aging Working Paper No. 34).

Bloom, David E., Canning, David & Fink, Günther (2009). Disease and development revisited (National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper No. 15137).

Bloom, David E., Canning, David, Hu, Linlin, Liu, Yuanli, Mahal, Ajay & Yip, Winnie. (2010). The contribution of population health and demographic change to economic growth in China and India. Journal of Comparative Economics, 38(1), 17-33. DOI: 10.1016/j.jce.2009.11.002

Bloom, David E. Canning, David, Rosenberg, Larry. (2011). Demographic Change and Economic Growth in South Asia. (Program on the Global Demography of Aging Working Paper No. 67).

Bloom, David E. & Finlay, Jocelyn E. (2009). Demographic Change and Economic Growth in Asia. Asian Economic Policy Review, 4(1), 45-64. DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-3131.2009.01106.x

Canning, David & Finlay, Jocelyn E. (2011). The Relationship between Fertility and Female Labor Force Participation in Low- to Middle-Income Countries: Uncovering the Heterogeneity Across and Within Countries.

Canning, David, Finlay, Jocelyn E. & Ozaltin, Emre. (2009). Adolescent Girls Health Agenda: Study on Intergenerational Health Impacts. Boston, MA: Harvard School of Public Health.

Finlay, Jocelyn & Fox, Ashley. (2013). Reproductive health laws and fertility decline in Ghana. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 123(1): e24-e28. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2013.07.008

Finlay, Jocelyn, Ozaltin, Emre & Canning, David. (2011). The Association of Maternal Age With Infant Mortality, Child Anthropometric Failure, Diarrhoea, and Anaemia for First Births: Evidence from 55 Low- and Middle-Income Countries. BMJ Open. DOI: 10.1136

Strulik, Holger & Vollmer, Sebastian. (2010). The Fertility Transition Around the World – 1950-2005 (Program on the Global Demography of Aging Working Paper No. 57).