URBANIZATION AND WOMEN’S EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND FERTILITY IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Open Access
Author:
McCreary, Thomas Patrick
Area of Honors:
Economics
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
David Shapiro, Thesis Supervisor David Shapiro, Thesis Supervisor Bee Yan Roberts, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Population growth sub-Saharan Africa
Abstract:
This thesis presents evidence that links population growth, women’s status, and urbanization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Urbanization, or a society’s transformation to a more urban-based society, provides varying factors that can affect women’s opportunities and status. In particular, this paper examines the differences in education and employment across urban and rural places, and how they influence fertility. A particular interest will be placed on the economic and political crisis that occurred in the 1990’s, which has the potential to affect education and employment opportunities in the DRC.
Previous work by Shapiro suggests an inverse relationship between secondary levels of education and fertility. Also, linkages have been made between modern sector employment and fertility. This paper will try to examine these influences across urban and rural places, and how they ultimately affect fertility differentials across urban and rural places.
