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The effects of gender control on fertility and children`s consumption

Author

Listed:
  • James B. Davies

    (Department of Economics, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada N6A 5C2)

  • Junsen Zhang

    (Department of Economics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong (Fax:)

Abstract

Effects of sex preference on investments in children`s human capital, bequests and fertility are studied, with and without sex selection, in a model based on parental altruism. Both pure sex preference, a feature of the parental utility function, and indirect preference, which arises from gender-related differences in earnings opportunities, are examined. When there is no gender control the impact of pure sex preference is seen in smaller consumption for daughters than for sons. However, when gender control is exerted, sex preference raises the sex ratio and it is possible that sisters may, on average, consume no less than their more numerous brothers. In an example of the model with specific functional forms, parents who practise gender control have larger families than if sex selection techniques were unavailable. The effect is magnified if sons` earnings opportunities are better than daughters`. JEL classification: D11, J13, J16

Suggested Citation

  • James B. Davies & Junsen Zhang, 1997. "The effects of gender control on fertility and children`s consumption," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 10(1), pages 67-85.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:10:y:1997:i:1:p:67-85
    Note: Received August 31, 1995 / Accepted May 2, 1996
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Christine Barnet-Verzat & François-Charles Wolff, 2003. "Choix d'éducation et composition par sexe de la fratrie," Economie & Prévision, La Documentation Française, vol. 157(1), pages 97-118.
    2. N. Picard-Tortorici, 2000. "An Original Framework for Studying Dynamic Fertility Models," THEMA Working Papers 2000-05, THEMA (THéorie Economique, Modélisation et Applications), Université de Cergy-Pontoise.
    3. Heather Congdon Fors & Annika Lindskog, 2023. "Son preference and education Inequalities in India: the role of gender-biased fertility strategies and preferential treatment of boys," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(3), pages 1431-1460, July.
    4. Qi Li & Juan Pantano, 2023. "The demographic consequences of sex‐selection technology," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 14(1), pages 309-347, January.
    5. Claus C Pörtner, 2010. "Sex Selective Abortions, Fertility and Birth Spacing," Working Papers UWEC-2010-04-R, University of Washington, Department of Economics, revised Aug 2010.
    6. He, Qichun, 2018. "Inflation and Fertility in a Schumpeterian Growth Model: Theory and Evidence," MPRA Paper 85074, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Michael Leung & Junsen Zhang, 2008. "Gender preference, biased sex ratio, and parental investments in single-child households," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 6(2), pages 91-110, June.
    8. Xu, Bing & Pak, Maxwell, 2015. "Gender ratio under China's two-child policy," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 289-307.
    9. Zhiqiang Dong & Yaseen Alhaj‐Yaseen & Yang Jiao & Yuejun Zhong, 2021. "Surplus men and scarce women: The impact of mating competition on the desire for sons in China," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(3), pages 339-371, August.
    10. He, Qichun, 2018. "Inflation and fertility in a Schumpeterian growth model: Theory and evidence1," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 113-126.
    11. Mukherjee, Diganta, 2002. "A new measure of gender bias," ISER Working Paper Series 2002-24, Institute for Social and Economic Research.
    12. Anna‐Maria Aksan, 2022. "Son preference and the demographic transition," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(1), pages 32-56, February.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Sex preferences · sex selection · fertility · children`s consumption;

    JEL classification:

    • D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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