Educational Gender Inequality and Inverted U-Shaped Fertility Dynamics

In this article, we examine the dynamic interactions between narrowing educational gender inequality and inverted U-shaped fertility dynamics by constructing a two-period overlapping generations model that includes both sexes. In the early stage of development, neither male subjects nor female subjects are educated. At some period, male subjects begin to be educated, whereas female subjects remain uneducated. At this stage, the male subjects’ education levels, as well as the fertility rates, gradually increase over time. Fertility achieves a peak just before the onset of the female subject’s education. Subsequently, fertility steadily decreases over time. Gender inequality in education also decreases during periods of fertility decline.