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Girls and boys: Economic crisis, fertility, and birth outcomes

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  • Soohyung Lee
  • Chiara Orsini

Abstract

We investigate the impact of an economic downturn on natality and birth weight for newborns when parents prefer sons. We examine South Korea, unexpectedly hit by the Asian financial crisis in 1997. For identification, we exploit regional and time variation in the crisis, focusing on women who were already pregnant when the downturn began. We find that the number of girls would have been 2% higher absent the crisis and that birth outcomes for girls were no better than those for boys—findings that differ from the Trivers–Willard Hypothesis. This relative disadvantage of girls is more severe among newborns who have at least two older siblings.

Suggested Citation

  • Soohyung Lee & Chiara Orsini, 2018. "Girls and boys: Economic crisis, fertility, and birth outcomes," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(7), pages 1044-1063, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:japmet:v:33:y:2018:i:7:p:1044-1063
    DOI: 10.1002/jae.2646
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    3. Hoyong Jung, 2023. "Can Universal Cash Transfer Save Newborns’ Birth Weight During the Pandemic?," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(1), pages 1-22, February.
    4. Riukula, Krista, 2024. "Childhood Shocks and Fertility: Evidence from Parental Job Loss," ETLA Working Papers 112, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.

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