Meta-analysis of empirical studies about effects of cohort size on unemployment across varying countries

The pronatalist-oriented population policies can bring about varying consequences including the challenges associated with job opportunities needed for the new birth cohorts as they approach the working ages. The present study aims to examine whether such challenges truly happen to the large cohorts and whether such economic outcomes apply to all countries. In order to examine these two key questions highlighted above, this study employs a meta-analysis approach and reviews the contemporary literature conducted in varying contexts from around the world.
The results of this analysis show that there are varying patterns about the effects of cohort size on unemployment rate. This suggests that such economic outcomes as unemployment are not exclusively the consequence of cohort size. In other words, the results emphasize the point that in order to explain properly the association between cohort size and unemployment rate, it is also important to consider a wider range of determinants. In sum, the large cohort of young population does not cause economic challenges for the society per se, rather it can open a demographic window of opportunity for economic growth subject to appropriate policies and timely planning.