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War, Marriage Markets And The Sex Ratio At Birth

Author

Listed:
  • Dirk Bethmann

    (Faculty of Economics and Management, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg)

  • Michael Kvasnicka

    (Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (RWI))

Abstract

In belligerent countries, male-to-female sex ratios at birth increased during and shortly after the two world wars. These rises still defy explanation. Several causes have been suggested (but not tested) in the literature. Many of these causes are proximate in nature, reflecting behavioral responses to the dramatically changed marriage market conditions for women and men that were induced by war-related declines in adult sex ratios. Based on county-level census data for the German state of Bavaria in the vicinity and aftermath of World War II, we explore the reduced-form relationship between changes in adult and offspring sex ratios. Our results suggest that war-induced shortfalls of men signficantly increased the percentage of boys among newborns.

Suggested Citation

  • Dirk Bethmann & Michael Kvasnicka, 2011. "War, Marriage Markets And The Sex Ratio At Birth," FEMM Working Papers 110023, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Faculty of Economics and Management.
    • Handle: RePEc:mag:wpaper:110023
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Goli, Srinivas & Mavisakalyan, Astghik & Rammohan, Anu & Vu, Loan, 2022. "Conflicts and son preference: Micro-level evidence from 58 countries," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    3. Astghik Mavisakalyan & Anna Minasyan, 2023. "The Role of Conflict in Sex Discrimination: The Case of Missing Girls," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 71(2), pages 443-484.
    4. Hicks, Daniel L., 2013. "War and the political zeitgeist: Evidence from the history of female suffrage," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 60-81.
    5. La Mattina, Giulia, 2017. "Civil conflict, domestic violence and intra-household bargaining in post-genocide Rwanda," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 168-198.

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    Keywords

    World War II; Adult Sex Ratio; Marriage Markets; Sex Ratio at Birth;
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