The long-run effects of mortality decline in developing countries

Ulla Lehmijoki; Tapio K. Palokangas

Since World War II, mortality has declined in the developing world. This paper examines the effects of this mortality decline on demographic and economic growth by a family-optimization model, in which fertility is endogenous and wealth yields utility through its status. The decline in mortality stimulates investment and generates an income stream which promotes population growth, but the desire of status hampers fertility and prevents capital-diluting demographic expansion. If status-seeking is strong, then the decline of mortality decreases population growth below its original level. -- mortality ; population growth ; economic growth

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Year of publication:	2011
Authors:	Lehmijoki, Ulla ; Palokangas, Tapio K.
Publisher:	Bonn : IZA
Subject:	Sterblichkeit \| Mortality \| Bevölkerungswachstum \| Population growth \| Wirtschaftswachstum \| Economic growth \| Familienökonomik \| Family economics \| Sozialer Status \| Social status \| Fertilität \| Fertility \| Bevölkerungsökonomik \| Population economics \| Entwicklungsländer \| Developing countries