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China's Sex Ratio and Crime: Behavioral Change or Financial Necessity?

Author

Listed:
  • Cameron, Lisa A.

    (University of Melbourne)

  • Meng, Xin

    (Australian National University)

  • Zhang, Dandan

    (Peking University)

Abstract

This paper uses survey and experimental data from prison inmates and comparable non-inmates to examine the drivers of rising criminality in China. Consistent with socio-biological research on other species, we find that China's high sex-ratios are associated with greater risk-taking and impatience amongst males. These underlying behavioral impacts explain some part of the increase in criminality. The primary avenue through which the sex-ratio increases crime, however, is the direct pressure on men to appear financially attractive in order to find a partner in the marriage market. These marriage market pressures result in a higher propensity to commit financially rewarding crimes.

Suggested Citation

  • Cameron, Lisa A. & Meng, Xin & Zhang, Dandan, 2016. "China's Sex Ratio and Crime: Behavioral Change or Financial Necessity?," IZA Discussion Papers 9747, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp9747
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lana Friesen, 2012. "Certainty of Punishment versus Severity of Punishment: An Experimental Investigation," Southern Economic Journal, Southern Economic Association, vol. 79(2), pages 399-421, October.
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    7. Edlund, Lena & Li, Hongbin & Yi, Junjian & Zhang, Junsen, 2007. "Sex Ratios and Crime: Evidence from China’s One-Child Policy," IZA Discussion Papers 3214, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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    Cited by:

    1. Bhaskar, V. & Li, Wenchao & Yi, Junjian, 2025. "Strategic parental investments in a competitive marriage market," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    2. Nikolova, Milena & Popova, Olga & Otrachshenko, Vladimir, 2022. "Stalin and the origins of mistrust," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    3. Victoria Baranov & Ralph Haas & Pauline Grosjean, 2023. "Men. Male-biased sex ratios and masculinity norms: evidence from Australia’s colonial past," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 28(3), pages 339-396, September.
    4. Xing, Chunbing & Sun, Yan, 2019. "Economic Opportunities and Gender Equity: The Migration and Education Decisions of Young Women from Rural China," IZA Discussion Papers 12311, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Lata Gangadharan & Tarun Jain & Pushkar Maitra & Joe Vecci, 2022. "Lab-in-the-field experiments: perspectives from research on gender," The Japanese Economic Review, Springer, vol. 73(1), pages 31-59, January.
    6. Cameron, Lisa & Meng, Xin & Zhang, Dandan, 2022. "Does being “left–behind” in childhood lead to criminality in adulthood? Evidence from data on rural-urban migrants and prison inmates in China," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 675-693.
    7. Rashmi Barua & Prarthna Agarwal Goel & Renuka Sane, 2023. "Son preference and crime in India," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 1127-1151, September.
    8. Yawen Cheng & Dongmin Kong, 2023. "Educational Investment for Future Marriage? Evidence of Missing Girls from China," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 31(4), pages 173-199, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    sex-ratio; time preferences; risk-taking; marriage markets; crime; one child policy; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure

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