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Deadly Discrimination: Implications of "Missing Girls" for Workplace Safety

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  • Zhibo Tan
  • Shang-Jin Wei
  • Xiaobo Zhang

Abstract

We examine an indirect but potentially deadly consequence of the “missing girls” phenomenon. A shortage of brides causes many parents with sons of marriageable age to work harder and seek higher-paying but potentially dangerous jobs. In response, employers invest less in workplace safety, which in turn increases work-related mortality. Drawing from a broad range of data sets and taking advantage of large regional and temporal variations in sex ratios in China, we demonstrate that in areas with a more severe shortage of young women, the parents with unmarried sons suffer a significantly higher incidence of accidental injuries and workplace deaths.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhibo Tan & Shang-Jin Wei & Xiaobo Zhang, 2021. "Deadly Discrimination: Implications of "Missing Girls" for Workplace Safety," NBER Working Papers 28830, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:28830
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    Cited by:

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    2. Li, Wenchao, 2023. "Gender of children and risky health behaviors: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development

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