Maternal Mortality, Religion and the Enrolment of Girls and Boys: Is There a Link?

Cooray, Arusha V.; Klasen, Stephan

doi:10.2139/ssrn.2437469

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Maternal Mortality, Religion and the Enrolment of Girls and Boys: Is There a Link?

Brooks World Poverty Institute Working Paper No. 197

17 Pages Posted: 23 May 2014

See all articles by Arusha V. Cooray

Arusha V. Cooray

James Cook University - College of Business, Law and Governance,

Stephan Klasen

University of Goettingen (Göttingen) - Faculty of Economics and Business Administration; CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute); IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Date Written: March 12, 2014

Abstract

We investigate empirically the impact of maternal mortality on the enrolment rate of girls and boys at the primary and secondary levels. We also examine whether the effect of maternal mortality on enrolment is strengthened or weakened by religion. Evidence shows that at both the primary and secondary levels, maternal mortality has a negative impact on the enrolment of girls and boys, with the negative greater for girls than for boys. For girls, the negative effect of maternal mortality is compounded by religion and increased fertility.

Keywords: Maternal mortality, enrolment of girls, enrolment of boys, religion

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Cooray, Arusha V. and Klasen, Stephan, Maternal Mortality, Religion and the Enrolment of Girls and Boys: Is There a Link? (March 12, 2014). Brooks World Poverty Institute Working Paper No. 197, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2437469 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2437469