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The gender pay gap and son preference: evidence from India

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  • Terry-Ann Craigie
  • Shatanjaya Dasgupta

Abstract

This study explores the role of the gender pay gap in explaining the downward trend in son preference in India. This hypothesis is based on the underlying theory that parents allocate more resources to male children because the expected returns are higher for male relative to female children. However, rising relative earnings of women in India may increase the expected returns to investing in girls, and ultimately help to lower son preference in general. Using data from the 2005–2006 National Family and Health Survey (NFHS) and the 2004 Integrated Public Use Microdata Series-International (IPUMS-International), we construct a gender pay gap measure from exogenous labor demand to identify the effect on reported son preference among men and women. Regression results confirm that reducing the gender pay gap helps lower son preference among men and women.

Suggested Citation

  • Terry-Ann Craigie & Shatanjaya Dasgupta, 2017. "The gender pay gap and son preference: evidence from India," Oxford Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(4), pages 479-498, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:oxdevs:v:45:y:2017:i:4:p:479-498
    DOI: 10.1080/13600818.2017.1293629
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anukriti, S & Kumler, Todd J., 2014. "Tariffs, Social Status, and Gender in India," IZA Discussion Papers 7969, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. S. Anukriti, 2013. "The Fertility-Sex Ratio Tradeoff: Unintended Consequences of Financial Incentives," Boston College Working Papers in Economics 827, Boston College Department of Economics.
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    Cited by:

    1. Pooja Sengupta & Roma Puri, 2022. "Gender Pay Gap in India: A Reality and the Way Forward—An Empirical Approach Using Quantile Regression Technique," Studies in Microeconomics, , vol. 10(1), pages 50-81, June.
    2. Keera Allendorf, 2020. "Another Gendered Demographic Dividend: Adjusting to a Future without Sons," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 46(3), pages 471-499, September.
    3. Kumar, Kaushalendra & Singh, Abhishek & James, K.S. & McDougal, Lotus & Raj, Anita, 2020. "Gender bias in hospitalization financing from borrowings, selling of assets, contribution from relatives or friends in India," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).

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