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The effect of China's One Child Policy on sex selection, family size, and the school enrolment of daughters

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  • Nancy Qian

Abstract

I first document that the introduction of the One Child Policy dramatically increased sex selection in certain regions, and that the Chinese government responded to this by allowing parents who had a daughter as their first child to try for a second child. Next, I show that the increase in family size caused by this relaxation in the One Child Policy increased school enrolment of first-born daughters. The analysis provides suggestive evidence that economies of scale in childrearing and short-term income demands contribute to the main results.

Suggested Citation

  • Nancy Qian, 2017. "The effect of China's One Child Policy on sex selection, family size, and the school enrolment of daughters," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2017-159, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2017-159
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    1. Bhalotra, Sonia & Clarke, Damian & Mühlrad, Hanna & Palme, Mårten, 2021. "Health and Labor Market Impacts of Twin Birth : Evidence from a Swedish IVF Policy Mandate," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1391, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.

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