S. Mahendra Dev, K.S.James and Binayak Sen: Causes Of Fertility Decline In India And Bangladesh: The role of Community

A rapid decline in fertility in Bangladesh and many states in India was evidenced during the last two decades. The decline in fertility in this region had taken place in extremely difficult conditions, like low standard of living, low literacy level, lack of modernisation etc. Analysis of factors leading to such decline in the prevailing socio-economic conditions would be of great importance. This study primarily attempts to analyse the factors leading to the observed decline. The study is designed in an extended diffusion framework, in the larger context of individual-community interaction. It also attempts to measure the impact on community through an improved econometric modelling (multilevel model). The results show that community interaction has a major role in explaining fertility transition both in India and Bangladesh (Working Paper No. 45).