K.C. Zachariah and S. Irudaya Rajan (eds). Kerala's Demographic Transition: Determinants and Consequences.

Malik, Afia

K. C. Zachariah and S. Irudaya Rajan (eds). Kerala's Demographic Transition: Determinants and Consequences. New Delhi: Sage Publications, 199.7 367 pages. Hardbound. Indian Rs 450.00.

The state of Kerala has achieved international fame for its success in several areas of the social sector. The most noticeable among them is the change in the demographic structure of the state (i.e., success in controlling deaths and unwanted births). The enormous success in the social sector in general, and population transition in particular, occurred at a time when the state had a dismal record in industrial and agricultural production and in employment generation. Rapid decline in fertility and mortality, without a corresponding trend in the productive sectors, is thought to be an anomaly.

The purpose of this volume is to draw lessons from Kerala's example for other Indian states and other developing countries.

The volume is divided in four sections. In general, the issues discussed are: the nature of this transition; the role played by education; age at marriage and the use of contraceptives; the causes and consequences of population ageing; the impact of both internal and external migration (an important component of demographic change in Kerala); and possible future patterns of population growth and age structure and their socio-economic implications.

The contributors find that effective social policies and programmes plus the role of female education and general literacy level are the most important factors for this positive transition in the state. Major transition in the productive sectors is not necessary. The book focuses on policy implications and is a useful contribution to population studies.

By Aria Malik, Staff Economist, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Islamabad.