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The neolithic revolution and contemporary sex ratios

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  • Fredriksson, Per G.
  • Gupta, Satyendra Kumar

Abstract

This study establishes a positive and robust association between the present-day country-level male-to-female sex ratio (at birth, 0–4, 0–14 year olds) and the pre-colonial experience with sedentary agricultural activities (the Neolithic Revolution). In comparison, historical plough use has a less robust impact on the sex ratio at birth, but a positive association for the 0–4 and 0–14 age groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Fredriksson, Per G. & Gupta, Satyendra Kumar, 2018. "The neolithic revolution and contemporary sex ratios," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 19-22.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:173:y:2018:i:c:p:19-22
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2018.09.014
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    Cited by:

    1. Fredriksson, Per G. & Gupta, Satyendra Kumar, 2020. "Irrigation and Culture: Gender Roles and Women’s Rights," GLO Discussion Paper Series 681, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    2. Jha, Chandan Kumar & Sarangi, Sudipta, 2020. "Arable Land in Antiquity Explains Modern Gender Inequality," MPRA Paper 104336, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Fredriksson, Per G. & Gupta, Satyendra Kumar, 2023. "Irrigation and gender roles," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    4. Gautam Hazarika & Chandan Kumar Jha & Sudipta Sarangi, 2019. "Ancestral ecological endowments and missing women," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 32(4), pages 1101-1123, October.
    5. Chandan Kumar Jha & Sudipta Sarangi & Ishita Tripathi, 2023. "Do historical agro-ecological factors shape current attitudes towards women’s rights and abilities?," Indian Economic Review, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 87-104, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Agricultural transition; Neolithic revolution; Plough; Sex ratio; Gender bias; Historical persistence;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General
    • N50 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • Z10 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - General

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