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On the Quantity and Quality of Girls : Fertility, Parental Investments, and Mortality

Author

Listed:
  • Anukriti, S

    (Development Research Group, The World Bank)

  • Bhalotra, Sonia

    (University of Warwick)

  • Tam, Eddy H. F.

    (University of Oxford)

Abstract

Access to prenatal sex-detection technology in India has led to a phenomenal increase in abortion of girls. We find that it has also narrowed the gender gap in under-5 mortality, consistent with surviving girls being more wanted than aborted girls. For every three aborted girls, one additional girl survived to age five. Mechanisms include moderation of son-biased fertility stopping and narrowing of gender gaps in parental investments. However, surviving girls are more likely to be born in lower status families. Our findings have implications not only for counts of missing girls but also for the later life outcomes of girls.

Suggested Citation

  • Anukriti, S & Bhalotra, Sonia & Tam, Eddy H. F., 2021. "On the Quantity and Quality of Girls : Fertility, Parental Investments, and Mortality," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1346, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:wrk:warwec:1346
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    abortion ; child mortality ; fertility ; gender ; health ; India ; missing girls ; parental investments ; prenatal sex detection ; sex-selection ; ultrasound JEL Classification: I15 ; J13 ; J16;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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