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Excess Male Infant Mortality: The Gene-Institution Interactions

Author

Listed:
  • Roland Pongou
  • Barthelemy Kuate Defo
  • Zacharie Tsala Dimbuene

Abstract

Excess male mortality at early ages is an important source of child inequality in most societies. We examine how improvement in the quality of political institutions affects the male survival disadvantage. Using data on twins in combination with a natural experiment on the development of African institutions, we quantify the distinct effects of biology and preconception environment on the infant mortality sex gap and find that these effects are important only in poor institutions. The analysis implies that improved institutions constrain genetic expression and mitigate preconception influences on excess male infant mortality, which is an optimistic finding with pragmatic implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Roland Pongou & Barthelemy Kuate Defo & Zacharie Tsala Dimbuene, 2017. "Excess Male Infant Mortality: The Gene-Institution Interactions," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 107(5), pages 541-545, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:107:y:2017:i:5:p:541-45
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/aer.p20171146
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. PONGOU Roland & SHAPIRO David & TENIKUE Michel, 2018. "Missing Twins: Fetal Origins, Institutions, and Twin-singleton Mortality Convergence," LISER Working Paper Series 2018-04, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER).
    2. Fenske, James & Wang, Shizhuo, 2023. "Tradition and mortality: Evidence from twin infanticide in Africa," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    3. Wang, Linfeng & Shi, Tie & Chen, Hanyi, 2023. "Air pollution and infant mortality: Evidence from China," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    4. Roland Pongou, 2020. "Is Excess (Fe)Male Mortality Caused by the Prenatal Environment, Child Biology, or Parental Discrimination? New Evidence from Male-Female Twins," Working Papers 2008E Classification-I15,, University of Ottawa, Department of Economics.
    5. Marie Christelle Mabeu & Roland Pongou, 2021. "The Interplay Between Colonial History and Postcolonial Institutions: Evidence from Cameroon," Working Papers 2111E Classification-D02,, University of Ottawa, Department of Economics.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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