This study investigates the relationship between the level of
socioeconomic development and fertility in India. The perspective of this
study is based on the "Theory of Demographic Transition" which states
that as socioeconomic development in a country increases, high fertility
and mortality rates are replaced by low fertility and mortality rates,
leading to population stability. This study tests the following major
hypothesis: The higher the level of socioeconomic development, the lower
the fertility rates among the states of india. The study applies correlation
and multiple regression analysis on the l 992-1993 indian National Family
Health Survey (NFHS) data using four major categories (education,
modernization, health, and family planning ) of socioeconomic development
to predict two measures (crude birth rate and the total fertility rate) of
fertility. The findings support the theory cf demographic transition in large
measure revealing that the overall level of socioeconomic development is
inversely related to fertility among the states of india. Finally. the study
suggests that higher levels of female literacy and acceptance of
contraceptives lead to fertility decline.
