MPIDR Working Paper
The degree of reproduction: education, jobs, and gender
MPIDR Working Paper WP-2026-038, 39 pages.
Rostock, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (September 2026)
Abstract
The macrolevel relationship between increases in women’s education, family SES, and declines in fertility is well-established. However, region-specific studies (e.g., Sub-Saharan Africa) often highlight exceptions to this trend. We add to the literature by examining this relationship within the historical context of Utah. Utah is an outlier in many ways—it has historically been homogenous with regards to religion, had strong schooling systems, and had higher than average fertility. In this context, we examine whether 1) husband’s employment is associated with wife’s education levels, 2) wife’s education levels are associated with age at first birth and total births, and 3) the relationship between the interaction of husband’s employment, wife’s education and fertility outcomes. We find a negative relationship between wife’s education and fertility—however, we also find that, among self-employed husbands, each additional year of wife’s schooling is associated with an increase in total number of children.
Keywords: Utah, completed fertility, education of women, fertility, gender, occupational choice