Traditional Wealth, Modern Goods, and Demographic Behavior in Rural Senegal

Abstract

Summary The study investigates the relationships of demographic indicators (fertility, mortality, marriage, education) with modern and traditional wealth in rural Senegal. Data were based on rural households interviewed in the 2011 DHS survey. An Absolute Wealth Index was computed from a list of 15 modern goods. A Traditional Wealth Index was computed from data on land and livestock per capita. Modern wealth was always associated with modern demographic behavior (lower fertility, lower mortality, higher age at marriage, higher level of education), whereas traditional wealth was not associated with fertility and mortality, and was negatively associated with marriage and education.