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How can economic schemes curtail the increasing sex ratio at birth in China?

Author

Listed:
  • Debarun Bhattacharjya

    (Stanford University)

  • Anant Sudarshan

    (Stanford University)

  • Shripad Tuljapurkar

    (Stanford University)

  • Ross Shachter

    (Stanford University)

  • Marcus Feldman

    (Stanford University)

Abstract

Fertility decline, driven by the one-child policy, and son preference have contributed to an alarming difference in the number of live male and female births in China. We present a quantitative model where people choose to sex-select because they perceive that married sons are more valuable than married daughters. Due to the predominant patrilocal kinship system in China, daughters-in-law provide valuable emotional and financial support, enhancing the perceived present value of married sons. We argue that inter-generational transfer data will help ascertain the extent to which economic schemes (such as pension plans for families with no sons) can curtail the increasing sex ratio at birth.

Suggested Citation

  • Debarun Bhattacharjya & Anant Sudarshan & Shripad Tuljapurkar & Ross Shachter & Marcus Feldman, 2008. "How can economic schemes curtail the increasing sex ratio at birth in China?," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 19(54), pages 1831-1850.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:19:y:2008:i:54
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2008.19.54
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Monica Das Gupta & Jiang Zhenghua & Li Bohua & Xie Zhenming & Woojin Chung & Bae Hwa-Ok, 2003. "Why is Son preference so persistent in East and South Asia? a cross-country study of China, India and the Republic of Korea," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(2), pages 153-187.
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    Cited by:

    1. Denton, Kaleda K. & Kendal, Jeremy R. & Ihara, Yasuo & Feldman, Marcus W., 2023. "Cultural niche construction with application to fertility control: A model for education and social transmission of contraceptive use," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 1-14.
    2. Borgonovo, Emanuele & Jose, Victor Richmond R. & Knowlton, Morgan & Shachter, Ross & Siebert, Johannes Ulrich & Ulu, Canan, 2026. "Fifty years of decision analysis in operational research: A review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 329(2), pages 355-377.
    3. Johnston, Lauren A., 2020. "China’s Economic Demography Transition Strategy: A Population Weighted Approach to the Economy and Policy," GLO Discussion Paper Series 593, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    4. Liu, Xiran & Feldman, Marcus W., 2021. "Effects of cultural transmission of surnaming decisions on the sex ratio at birth," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 44-53.
    5. Mingzhi Hu & Wenping Ye, 2020. "Home Ownership and Subjective Wellbeing: A Perspective from Ownership Heterogeneity," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 1059-1079, March.
    6. Felicia Tian, 2013. "Transition to First Marriage in Reform-Era Urban China: The Persistent Effect of Education in a Period of Rapid Social Change," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 32(4), pages 529-552, August.
    7. Yi Zeng & Linda George & Melanie Sereny & Danan Gu & James W. Vaupel, 2015. "Older parents enjoy better filial piety and care from daughters than sons in China," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2015-012, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.

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    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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