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Sibling death clustering in India: state dependence versus unobserved heterogeneity

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  • Wiji Arulampalam
  • Sonia Bhalotra

Abstract

Summary. Data from a range of environments indicate that the incidence of death is not randomly distributed across families but, rather, that there is a clustering of death among siblings. A natural explanation of this would be that there are (observed or unobserved) differences across families, e.g. in genetic frailty, education or living standards. Another hypothesis that is of considerable interest for both theory and policy is that there is a causal process whereby the death of a child influences the risk of death of the succeeding child in the family. Drawing language from the literature on the economics of unemployment, the causal effect is referred to here as state dependence (or scarring). The paper investigates the extent of state dependence in India, distinguishing this from family level risk factors that are common to siblings. It offers some methodological innovations on previous research. Estimates are obtained for each of three Indian states, which exhibit dramatic differences in socio‐economic and demographic variables. The results suggest a significant degree of state dependence in each of the three regions. Eliminating scarring, it is estimated, would reduce the incidence of infant mortality (among children who are born after the first child) by 9.8% in the state of Uttar Pradesh, 6.0% in West Bengal and 5.9% in Kerala.

Suggested Citation

  • Wiji Arulampalam & Sonia Bhalotra, 2006. "Sibling death clustering in India: state dependence versus unobserved heterogeneity," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 169(4), pages 829-848, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jorssa:v:169:y:2006:i:4:p:829-848
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-985X.2006.00425.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Bas Klaauw & Limin Wang, 2011. "Child mortality in rural India," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 24(2), pages 601-628, April.
    2. Bhalotra, Sonia & Karlsson, Martin & Nilsson, Therese, 2014. "Life Expectancy and Mother-Baby Interventions. Evidence from A Historical Trial," Ruhr Economic Papers 504, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    3. Walter Rasugu Omariba & Fernando Rajulton & Roderic Beaujot, 2008. "Correlated mortality risks of siblings in Kenya," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 18(11), pages 311-336.
    4. van Soest, A.H.O. & Saha, U.R., 2012. "Does Family Planning Reduce Infant Mortality? Evidence from Surveillance Data in Matlab, Bangladesh," Discussion Paper 2012-019, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.
    5. Saha, U.R., 2012. "Econometric models of child mortality dynamics in rural Bangladesh," Other publications TiSEM f734b639-9696-480e-96f0-8, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    6. van Soest, A.H.O. & Saha, U.R., 2012. "Birth Spacing, Child Survival and Fertility Decisions : Analysis of Causal Mechanismsa," Other publications TiSEM 0e624886-ff7b-4f57-a03f-5, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    7. Sonia Bhalotra, 2008. "Sibling-Linked Data in the Demographic and Health Surveys," The Centre for Market and Public Organisation 08/203, The Centre for Market and Public Organisation, University of Bristol, UK.
    8. Baiju Shah & Laxmi Dwivedi, 2011. "Causes of Neonatal Deaths among Tribal Women in Gujarat, India," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 30(4), pages 517-536, August.
    9. Saha, U.R. & van Soest, A.H.O. & Bijwaard, G.E., 2012. "Cause-specific Neonatal Deaths : Levels, Trend and Determinants in Rural Bangladesh, 1987-2005," Other publications TiSEM a51b9cf0-74dd-4bc2-bd6f-d, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    10. Sonia Bhalotra & Martin Karlsson & Therese Nilsson, 2014. "Life Expectancy and Mother-Baby Interventions," CINCH Working Paper Series 1404, Universitaet Duisburg-Essen, Competent in Competition and Health.
    11. Mukesh Ranjan & Laxmi Kant Dwivedi & Shivalingappa Halli, 2022. "Infant Death Clustering in the Quarter of a Century in India: A Decomposition Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-21, November.
    12. Marco Alfano, 2014. "Daughters, Dowries, Deliveries:The Effect of Marital Payments on Fertility Choices in India," RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 1413, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM).
    13. Singh, Prashant Kumar & Parasuraman, Sulabha, 2014. "‘Looking beyond the male–female dichotomy’ – Sibling composition and child immunization in India, 1992–2006," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 145-153.
    14. Bhalotra, Sonia & Karlsson, Martin & Nilsson, Therese, 2015. "Infant health and longevity: evidence from a historical trial in Sweden," ISER Working Paper Series 2015-08, Institute for Social and Economic Research.
    15. Arulampalam, Wiji & Bhalotra, Sonia R., 2006. "Persistence in Infant Mortality: Evidence for the Indian States," IZA Discussion Papers 2488, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    16. Makate, Marshall & Makate, Clifton, 2016. "Is poor sanitation killing more children in rural Zimbabwe? Results of propensity score matching method," MPRA Paper 72831, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 02 Aug 2016.
    17. repec:zbw:rwirep:0504 is not listed on IDEAS
    18. Sonia Bhalotra & Martin Karlsson & Therese Nilsson, 2014. "Life Expectancy and Mother-Baby Interventions. Evidence from A Historical Trial," Ruhr Economic Papers 0504, Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universität Dortmund, Universität Duisburg-Essen.
    19. Gebrenegus Ghilagaber & Rolf Larsson, 2023. "Adjustment of Anticipatory Covariates in Retrospective Surveys: An Expected Likelihood Approach," Stats, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-19, November.
    20. Saha, U.R. & van Soest, A.H.O., 2009. "Infant Mortality in Rural Bangladesh : State Dependence vs. Unobserved Heterogeneity," Other publications TiSEM c6939d37-f018-49e2-bc6e-3, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    21. Diane Dancer & Anu Rammohan & Murray D. Smith, 2008. "Infant mortality and child nutrition in Bangladesh," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 17(9), pages 1015-1035, September.
    22. Gebrenegus Ghilagaber & Johan Koskinen, 2009. "Bayesian Adjustment of Anticipatory Covariates in Analyzing Retrospective Data," Mathematical Population Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(2), pages 105-130.
    23. Srivastava, Shobhit & Rashmi, & Paul, Ronak, 2021. "Urban-rural differential in neonatal and post-neonatal mortality clustering among Indian siblings: Evidence from National Family Health Survey 2015–16," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).

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