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Effects of sex preference and social pressure on fertility in changing Japanese families

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  • Yamamura, Eiji

Abstract

A preference in parents for a son is thought to affect their fertility. However, even if parents do not have a preference for a son, the people who surround them possibly have a preference for a son. In this case, social pressure can influence parents’ behavior and fertility. This study explored how social pressure related to the sex of children affects fertility. Effects of social pressure were compared between the pre- and post-World War II generations in Japan. The dependent variable was the number of children in the regression equation. A dummy variable for the first child, which was set to 1 when the first child was a boy, and a dummy variable for the preference for a son were included as independent variables. Social pressure was considered to exist when the dummy variable for the first child had a significant negative sign. The key findings are as follows: in the pre-war generation, if the first child was a daughter, the total number of children tended to increase not only when the mother preferred a son, but also when the mother did not have a preference for either gender. This tendency was not observed for the post-war generation.

Suggested Citation

  • Yamamura, Eiji, 2013. "Effects of sex preference and social pressure on fertility in changing Japanese families," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 97-104.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:46:y:2013:i:c:p:97-104
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2013.08.002
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    Cited by:

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    3. Tavassoli Nahid, 2021. "The Transition of Son Preference: Evidence from Southeast Asian Countries," Economics, Sciendo, vol. 9(1), pages 43-67, June.
    4. Nahid Tavassoli, 2021. "The Gender-Biased Fertility Behavior: Evidence from Southeast Asian Countries," Economic Alternatives, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, issue 2, pages 235-261, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fertility; Preference for a son; Social pressure; Family structure;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • 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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