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The Impact of the Firstborn Gender on Family Formation and Dissolution: Evidence from Russia

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  • Sergii Maksymovych

Abstract

In this paper, I obtain three findings regarding the impact of the firstborn child’s gender on family stability. First, couples who have a first-born daughter aged 6-18 are more likely to divorce than those who have a son of that age. Second, single mothers with first-born daughters are less likely to marry. Third, couples who have a first-born daughter aged 0-5 are less likely to divorce than those who have a son of that age. The first two findings are in accord with findings in the literature. The third finding is specific to the Russian context. My analysis is based on the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS-HSE) data for the 1994-2018 period. I estimate complementary log-log (cloglog) regressions of divorce and marriage (for single mothers) on firstborn gender, age, and a set of household socio-demographic characteristics. My findings support the conclusion that the impact of children’s gender on family living arrangements depends on family socioeconomic conditions and thus has a different character and magnitude in different contexts.

Suggested Citation

  • Sergii Maksymovych, 2023. "The Impact of the Firstborn Gender on Family Formation and Dissolution: Evidence from Russia," CERGE-EI Working Papers wp765, The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education - Economics Institute, Prague.
    • Handle: RePEc:cer:papers:wp765
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Francine D. Blau & Lawrence M. Kahn, 2017. "The Gender Wage Gap: Extent, Trends, and Explanations," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 55(3), pages 789-865, September.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    marriage; divorce; children; gender; living arrangements;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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