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Son preference and crime in India

Author

Listed:
  • Rashmi Barua

    (Jawaharlal Nehru University)

  • Prarthna Agarwal Goel

    (GGS Indraprastha University)

  • Renuka Sane

    (National Institute of Public Finance and Policy)

Abstract

Using an Instrumental Variable strategy, we find a positive causal relation between son preference, proxied by child sex ratio, and crime in India; a country with strong patriarchal norms. To explore the channels, we study the role of social norms in explaining the relation between sex ratio and crime. The shortage of females within a district leads to the relaxation of rigid marriage norms related to arranging marriages within a known network. Consistent with this, we find that in districts with high pre-marital sex ratio, marriages are being arranged in far away places leading to a reduction in the social stigma cost of crime.

Suggested Citation

  • Rashmi Barua & Prarthna Agarwal Goel & Renuka Sane, 2023. "Son preference and crime in India," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 1127-1151, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:reveho:v:21:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1007_s11150-023-09647-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11150-023-09647-9
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Sex ratio; Crime; Instrumental variables;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy
    • C26 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation

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