David E. Bloom|P. H. Reddy
Age patterns of women at marriage, cohabitation, and first birth in India
Harvard University
purpose paper examine age patterns indian women marriage cohabitation first birth task complicated features indian marriage institution differentiate institution marriage western cultures also complicated diversity indian marriage customs possibility indian marriage patterns changed time nevertheless analysis survey data two districts south central india support following conclusions marriage childbearing continue universal timing marriage childbearing showed small increase fairly long period time appears recently undergoing changes direction longer delays significant ruralurban differences marriage fertility timing least partly result greater impact education age marriage cohabitation first birth urban areas rural areas observed characteristics religion education explain variation womens marriage fertility timing urban areas rural areas ie education seems generate new social norms tend displace norms derived tradition incidence childhood marriages twostage marriages decline causing small noticeable rise age marriage exceed somewhat increase age cohabitation age patterns marriage india closely resemble western patterns although age patterns cohabitation first birth socioeconomic variables appear explain less variation marriage fertility timing within local communities across communities important results highlight need recent richer data marriage fertility behavior india particular strongly suggest marriage patterns india midst major changes conclusion similar reached caldwell reddy caldwell 1983 adopted qualitative approach analyzing marriage change whose observations also recent collection analysis recent geographically widespread data begin assess fully nature magnitude demographic changes way speculate implications population growth economic development formulation public policy indiaabstract truncated 400 words