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Gender Roles in Family Decision Making: Results from Indian States

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  • Deb, Surajit

Abstract

Basic family decisions like desire to limit child-bearing, sex of the new-born or child care are not always an individual affair but involve interaction between choices of men and women in the family. This study examines how background characteristics as well as decisions of men and women determine the family outcomes such as, women’s fertility, family-size, sex preference of the new-born and children orphan-hood. Our analysis is performed using cross-sectional data pertaining to 29 states of India. The results indicate that while men’s preferences for male children remain as a significant barrier to fertility reductions, women’s literacy level can contribute to the men’s decisions of limiting family-size. The men’s literacy along with women’s lack of media exposure weakens women’s desire for controlling family-size and also enhances their preference for the male child. Finally, while alcohol use by men and literacy level or cash earning of women plays a role for the separation of children from their parents, the lack of wealth possession and men’s literacy level seems to have prevented the abandonment of children across Indian states. Key Words: Family Decisions, Family Structure, Child Care, Cross-Sectional Models, India, Regional Dimensions. JEL Classification: D10, J12, J13, C21, O53, R11

Suggested Citation

  • Deb, Surajit, 2015. "Gender Roles in Family Decision Making: Results from Indian States," Conference papers 332635, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:pugtwp:332635
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;

    JEL classification:

    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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