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Were there missing girls in Biscay? Sex ratios in Northern Spain, 1550-1899

Author

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  • Elena Catalán Martínez

    (Universidad del País Vasco (UVP/EHU))

Abstract

This paper seeks to contribute to the knowledge of sex ratios at birth, their long-term evolution, and their determinants, on a sound documentary base of almost one million records between 1550 and 1890. The region studied likewise offers the advantage of being industrialised at the end of the observation period, which allows relevant conclusions to be drawn about the effect of modern economic growth on family decisions regarding their offspring. The main conclusions include the preference for males in the rural world, favoured by the inheritance regime and the scarce ecclesiastical regulation in this territory, while the city levels were similar to those of other European cities. From the 18th century onwards, a stability around the reference values in all areas could be observed and which was only broken by the economic and social changes during industrialisation. KEY Classification-JEL: N33; J11; J13; J16

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Catalán Martínez, 2023. "Were there missing girls in Biscay? Sex ratios in Northern Spain, 1550-1899," Investigaciones de Historia Económica - Economic History Research (IHE-EHR), Journal of the Spanish Economic History Association, Asociación Española de Historia Económica, vol. 19(03), pages 12-24.
    • Handle: RePEc:ahe:invest:v:19:y:2023:i:03:p:12-24
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.33231/j.ihe.2023.03.004
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Sex ratios at birth; Sex ratios in childhood; Gender discrimination; Foundings; Industrialisation.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N33 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • 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

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