How does the microeconomic theory of fertility relate to the theory

Part B:    Questions for Discussion (8 points)   

a). How does the microeconomic theory of fertility relate to the theory of consumer choice?

b). Do you think that economic incentives and disincentives influence family size decisions? Explain your answer, giving some specific examples of such that incentives and disincentives.

Part C:    Quantitative Analysis(Show all your work with graphical analysis).

Problem # 1: “Total Fertility Rate and Infant Mortality Rate” (10 points)   

Please use the PDF file entitled “Selected Statistics on African Countries 2008” under the Course Documents folder,and

 

a). Complete the following table that will depict total fertility and infant mortality rates for your African country in 1988-2007.

 

Year

Total Fertility Rate

(per woman)

Infant Mortality Rate

(per 1,000)

1988

 

 

1989

 

 

1990

 

 

1991

 

 

1992

 

 

1993

 

 

1994

 

 

1995

 

 

1996

 

 

1997

 

 

1998

 

 

1999

 

 

2000

 

 

2001

 

 

2002

 

 

2003

 

 

2004

 

 

2005

 

 

2006

 

 

2007

 

 

b). Create two graphs. The first should be a graph of the total fertility rate over the 1988-2007 period; the second should be a graph of the infant mortality rate over the same period. Describe the trends you observe.

Problem # 2: “Population Structure and Migration Trends” (12 points)   

Please use the PDF file entitled “Selected Statistics on African Countries 2008” under the Course Documents folder,and

 

a). Fill in the following table using Central African countries data for 2007.

 

 

Country

Female Population (% of Total)

Rural Population (% of Total)

Net Migration (per/1000)

Rate of Natural Increase (%)

Egypt

 

 

 

 

Cameroon

 

 

 

 

Central African Republic

 

 

 

 

Chad

 

 

 

 

Congo

 

 

 

 

Democratic Republic of Congo

 

 

 

 

Equatorial Guinea

 

 

 

 

Gabon

 

 

 

 

 

b). How does your “African Country’s”rural population compare with that of other Central African countries?

c). How does your “African Country’s”female population compare with that of other Central African countries?

d). How does your “African Country’s”net migration compare with that of other Central African countries?