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The Interplay of Sibling Sex Composition, Son Preference, and Child Education in China: Evidence from the One-Child Policy

Author

Listed:
  • Futing Chen

    (University of Chicago)

  • Cuntong Wang

    (Central University of Finance and Economics)

  • Yihe WangDing

    (City University of Macau)

Abstract

This study examines the interplay between sibling sex composition, son preference, and child education outcomes in China, leveraging the natural experiment of the country's One-Child Policy. Using China 1990 census, we find that the presence of a brother in the second birth exerts contrasting effects on firstborn girls' education. Son-biased family resource allocation diminishes their educational attainment, while parental decisions to curtail family size after the son's birth lead to increased educational opportunities for firstborn girls. These opposing mechanisms counteract each other, resulting in a near-zero net effect on their education. In contrast, sibling sex composition has no discernible impact on firstborn boys' education in either way. Our findings underscore the intricate interplay of sibling composition, policy and culture in shaping educational outcomes in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Futing Chen & Cuntong Wang & Yihe WangDing, 2024. "The Interplay of Sibling Sex Composition, Son Preference, and Child Education in China: Evidence from the One-Child Policy," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 43(5), pages 1-31, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:poprpr:v:43:y:2024:i:5:d:10.1007_s11113-024-09910-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11113-024-09910-6
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