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Pandemic influenza and gender imbalance: Mortality selection before births

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  • Ogasawara, Kota

Abstract

This study uses data from the 1918–1920 influenza pandemic in Japan along with newly digitized and complete census records on births and infant deaths to analyze mortality selection in utero. I find that fetal exposure to the influenza pandemic during the first trimester of the pregnancy decreases the proportion of males at birth. The results from mechanism analysis suggest that this decline in male births is associated with the deterioration of fetal and infant health. This result supports a wide range of existing literature on the long-run adverse effects of pandemic influenza.

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  • Ogasawara, Kota, 2022. "Pandemic influenza and gender imbalance: Mortality selection before births," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 311(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:311:y:2022:i:c:s0277953622006050
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115299
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Doran, Áine & Colvin, Christopher L. & McLaughlin, Eoin, 2024. "What can we learn from historical pandemics? A systematic review of the literature," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 342(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gender imbalance; Pandemic influenza; Prenatal selection; Selection bias; Trivers–Willard hypothesis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • N35 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Asia including Middle East

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