Research Paper IZA Discussion Papers 9930
Property rights and gender bias: evidence from land reform in West Bengal
Authors
Publication date
May 2016
Summary
While land reforms are typically pursued in order to raise productivity and reduce inequality across households, an unintended consequence may be increased within-household gender inequality. We analyse a tenancy registration programme in West Bengal, and find that it increased child survival and reduced fertility. However, we also find that it intensified son preference in families without a first-born son to inherit the land title. These families exhibit no reduction in fertility, an increase in the probability that a subsequent birth is male, and a substantial increase in the survival advantage of subsequent sons over daughters.
Subjects
Law And Legislation, Childbearing: Fertility, and Housing Market
Links
http://www.iza.org/en/webcontent/publications/papers/viewAbstract?dp_id=9930
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