Publication type
Research Paper
Series Number
1346
Series
Warwick Economics Research Papers
Authors
Publication date
April 15, 2021
Summary:
Access to prenatal sex-detection technology in India has led to a phenomenal increase in abortion of girls. We find that it has also narrowed the gender gap in under-5 mortality, consistent with surviving girls being more wanted than aborted girls. For every three aborted girls, one additional girl survived to age five. Mechanisms include moderation of son-biased fertility stopping and narrowing of gender gaps in parental investments. However, surviving girls are more likely to be born in lower status families. Our findings have implications not only for counts of missing girls but also for the later life outcomes of girls.
Subject
Link
https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/workingpapers/2021/twerp_1346_-_bhalotra.pdf
Notes
Accepted for publication in the 'Economic Journal'
#536736