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Wealth, Marriage, and Sex Selection

Author

Listed:
  • Girija Borker

    (DIME, World Bank & IZA)

  • Jan Eeckhout

    (UPF Barcelona (ICREA-BSE-CREi))

  • Nancy Luke

    (Pennsylvania State University)

  • Shantidani Minz

    (Christian Medical College, Vellore)

  • Kaivan Munshi

    (Yale University and Toulouse School of Economics)

  • Soumya Swaminathan

    (World Health Organization)

Abstract

Two mechanisms have been proposed to explain sex selection in India: son preference in which parents desire a male heir and daughter aversion in which dowry payments make parents worse off with girls. Our model incorporates both mechanisms, providing micro-foundations, based on the organization of the marriage institution, for daughter aversion. Marital matching, sex selection, and dowries are jointly determined in the model, whose implications are tested on a representative sample of rural households. Simulations of the model indicate that existing policies targeting daughter aversion might exacerbate the problem, while identifying other policies that could be effective.

Suggested Citation

  • Girija Borker & Jan Eeckhout & Nancy Luke & Shantidani Minz & Kaivan Munshi & Soumya Swaminathan, 2024. "Wealth, Marriage, and Sex Selection," Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers 2408, Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University.
    • Handle: RePEc:cwl:cwldpp:2408
    as

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    File URL: https://cowles.yale.edu/sites/default/files/2024-10/d2408.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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