Demographic Transition, Oil, and Institutions: Lessons from the Global Experience for Iran

1. Introduction

Iran like most other countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is experiencing a significant demographic transition. Demographic transition is defined as increasing share of working age population (15-64 years of age) in total population. Countries at their initial stages of development have high birth and death rates. Over time by improving health and increasing levels of education, especially for women, the mortality rate falls while birth rate remains constant or falls with delay. In this second stage of development, countries face a baby boom period; i.e., population growth. Increasing young age dependency (% of working-age population) is a main characteristic of this second stage in demographic transition. Industrialization and modernization of the economy besides higher participation of women in labor market increases the opportunity cost of having more children. The third stage which accompanies with higher stability of political systems reduces the willingness of women to increase the size of family. Birth rates converge to death rates in the third stage. This is an important phase in demographic changes: babies of previous stage now enter into the working age population, increasing pressures on job market. Figure 1 shows the trend of birth and death rate (per 1000 people) in Iran from 1950 to 2100. The largest difference between birth and death rates is observed during 1985-1990 and 1990-1995. Both rates are approaching to each other over time. The projections show that death rate will exceed birth rate from 2060 onwards in Iran. The significant increases in population growth rate in 1980s and 1990s will enter into working age population in coming decades, creating an important source for either economic growth or political instability. Such an increase in working age population, per se, is positive news: decreasing age dependency ratio and increasing labor force means more saving and higher investment which consequently can lead to higher economic growth (Lee, Mason and Miller, 2001; Mason and Lee, 2004 and Lee and Mason, 2006). For example, in Iran from 1965-2007, the correlation between the share of working age population and domestic saving rates is 54%. Table 1 provides a summary of key demographic indicators in Iran from 1960 to 2012.

Note: average of indicators is presented for each time period. Source: World Bank (2013) and author calculations