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The Effect Of Sex Ratios On Suicide

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  • Masanori Kuroki

Abstract

Whereas sex ratios are likely to affect the likelihood of marriage, how sex ratios affect health and survival is underexplored. This study uses suicide as a measure of mental health and examines how suicides are affected by sex ratios. As women tend to marry men older than themselves, shrinking populations will lead to higher sex ratios (i.e., higher proportions of men) in the marriage market. Using data from Japan, I find that high sex ratios, both early‐life and current, are correlated with higher male suicide rates, whereas female suicide rates are generally not affected. The results of this study have important implications for public health in countries where imbalanced sex ratios are a concern. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • Masanori Kuroki, 2014. "The Effect Of Sex Ratios On Suicide," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 23(12), pages 1502-1510, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:hlthec:v:23:y:2014:i:12:p:1502-1510
    DOI: 10.1002/hec.2988
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yamamura, Eiji, 2015. "Social capital and views on suicide via the internet: a study using survey data," MPRA Paper 64071, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Yamamura, Eiji, 2015. "Comparison of Social Trust's effect on suicide ideation between urban and non-urban areas: The Case of Japanese Adults in 2006," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 118-126.
    3. Mertz, Mikkel & Mitchell, Livvy & Skov, Peer Ebbesen, 2023. "Parents’ earnings response to youth suicide: Evidence from New Zealand administrative records," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    4. Rottmann, Horst, 2014. "Do unemployment benefits and employment protection influence suicide mortality? An international panel data analysis," Weidener Diskussionspapiere 42, University of Applied Sciences Amberg-Weiden (OTH).
    5. Eiji Yamamura, 2015. "Comparison of Social Capital's Effect on Consideration of Suicide between Urban and Rural Areas," ISER Discussion Paper 0933, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Osaka University.
    6. Zang, Emma & Zheng, Hui, 2018. "Does the sex ratio at sexual maturity affect men's later-life mortality risks? Evidence from historical China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 61-69.
    7. Ikeda Shin S., 2016. "Graphical analyses of occupation-wise suicide risk in Japan," GRIPS Discussion Papers 16-03, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.
    8. Christian Breuer & Horst Rottmann, 2014. "Do Labor Market Institutions Influence Suicide Mortality? An International Panel Data Analysis," CESifo Working Paper Series 4875, CESifo.
    9. Zhang, Kezhong & He, Fan & Ma, Yuanyuan, 2021. "Sex ratios and mental health: Evidence from China," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).

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