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Sexual Bias and Household Consumption: A Semiparametric Analysis of Engel Curves in Rural China

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Author Info
Gong, Xiaodong () (IZA, Bonn)
van Soest, Arthur (Tilburg University)
Zhang, Ping (The Institute of Economics, the Chinese Academy of Social Studies)

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Abstract

We analyze Engel curves for nuclear households in rural China. The sample includes more than 5000 nuclear families covering nineteen out of thirty Chinese provinces. We consider expenditures on food, also subdivided into several food subcategories such as cereals, or meat and fish, and other consumption categories such as alcohol and tobacco, medical, and educational goods. We use the semiparametric partially linear model. This allows for any functional form relationship between the budget shares and total expenditures, but assumes that the demographic variables enter the model in a linear way. We correct for potential endogeneity of total expenditures. Our results suggest that there are economies of scale in families ’consumption expenditure patterns. We find some differences in consumption patterns which relate to differences in gender of children, which can be seen as evidence of sexual bias related to a commonly believed existing preference for boys.

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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) in its series IZA Discussion Papers with number 212.

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Length: 38 pages
Date of creation: Nov 2000
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Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp212

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Related research
Keywords: Household economics; consumption; bias; gender differences; Engel curve; China;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
C14 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: General - - - Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods
C20 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - General
D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
R20 - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics - - Household Analysis - - - General

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    Other versions:
  2. Lewbel, Arthur, 1991. "The Rank of Demand Systems: Theory and Nonparametric Estimation," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 59(3), pages 711-30, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  3. Martin Browning & Ramesh Subramaniam, 1994. "Gender Bias in India: Parental Preferences or Marriage Costs?," CRIEFF Discussion Papers 9415, Centre for Research into Industry, Enterprise, Finance and the Firm. [Downloadable!]
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  9. repec:att:wimass:19901 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Other versions:
  17. Hausman, Jerry A. & Newey, Whitney K. & Ichimura, Hidehiko & Powell, James L., 1991. "Identification and estimation of polynomial errors-in-variables models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 50(3), pages 273-295, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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