We describe a method for fitting the Coale-Trussell model to fertility rates or to counts of births and exposure by single years of age. The procedure maximizes a quasi-likelihood function and can easily be implemented using standard software. An extension to handle covariates is discussed.

Two opposing hypotheses were proposed to explain the life course pattern in the effect of education on mortality: “cumulative advantage,” where the education effect becomes stronger with age, and “age-as-leveler,” where the effect becomes weaker in old age. Most empirical studies bring...