Fertility and the Household Division of Labor Among the Maragoli of Western Province Kenya: A Pilot Study

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This award allows the investigator to do a three month pilot study in Kenya. The primary goal is to test a theory of fertility, namely Caldwell's (1982) wealth flows theory. This theory posits that people plan their family size in response to their appreciation of their economic and social responsibilities, which change with their level of income and access to superior education and training. The higher their income, the better their training/education, the more their responsibilities towards family focus upon the nuclear rather than the extended family, and the less they need to rely upon numerous offspring to look after them in their old age. The research hypothesizes that wealth flows theory will explain the demographic situation among the Maragoli of Viyalo Sublocation, Western Province, Kenya better than an alternative model known as the "economic value of children" perspective. The researcher will collect time allocation data and demographic information to test these hypotheses. The area has been studied by a Kenyan collaborator since 1975, so this research will build on a longitudinal data base for this community. This research is valuable because improved understanding of the causes of lowered population growth in the developing world is of critical importance. This pilot project will yield valuable information towards that goal.