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A Multinomial Model of Fertility Choice and Offspring Sex Ratios in India

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  • Rubiana Chamarbagwala
  • Martin Ranger

Abstract

We use the fertility histories of over 70,000 Indian women from the Third National Family and Health Survey to investigate the relationship between family size and offspring sex ratios in India. We find that families with three or more children exhibit gender equality in offspring sex ratios. In families with one or two children, however, there are less than 800 daughters for every 1000 sons. Thus, we find an 'intensification' effect - namely, a positive correlation between family size and female-male offspring sex ratios. Our results indicate that greater wealth and paternal education may increase parents' access to and affordability of sex-selection technologies, thereby allowing them to choose both the sex of their children as well as a smaller family size.

Suggested Citation

  • Rubiana Chamarbagwala & Martin Ranger, 2010. "A Multinomial Model of Fertility Choice and Offspring Sex Ratios in India," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(3), pages 417-438.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:46:y:2010:i:3:p:417-438
    DOI: 10.1080/00220380903012755
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paulo Guimaraes & Richard Lindrooth, 2005. "Dirichlet-Multinomial Regression," Econometrics 0509001, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Oster, Emily, 2009. "Does increased access increase equality? Gender and child health investments in India," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(1), pages 62-76, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rubiana Chamarbagwala, 2011. "Sibling composition and selective gender-based survival bias," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 24(3), pages 935-955, July.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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