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Wealth, Marriage, and Sex Selection

Author

Listed:
  • Girija Borker

    (DIME, World Bank & IZA)

  • Jan Eeckhout

    (UPF Barcelona (ICREA-BSE-CREi))

  • Nancy Luke

    (Pennsylvania State University)

  • Shantidani Minz

    (Christian Medical College, Vellore)

  • Kaivan Munshi

    (Yale University and Toulouse School of Economics)

  • Soumya Swaminathan

    (World Health Organization)

Abstract

Two mechanisms have been proposed to explain sex selection in India: son preference in which parents desire a male heir and daughter aversion in which dowry payments make parents worse off with girls. Our model incorporates both mechanisms, providing micro-foundations, based on the organization of the marriage institution, for daughter aversion. Marital matching, sex selection, and dowries are jointly determined in the model, whose implications are tested on a representative sample of rural households. Simulations of the model indicate that existing policies targeting daughter aversion might exacerbate the problem, while identifying other policies that could be effective.

Suggested Citation

  • Girija Borker & Jan Eeckhout & Nancy Luke & Shantidani Minz & Kaivan Munshi & Soumya Swaminathan, 2024. "Wealth, Marriage, and Sex Selection," Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers 2408, Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University.
    • Handle: RePEc:cwl:cwldpp:2408
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    File URL: https://cowles.yale.edu/sites/default/files/2024-10/d2408.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lupin Rahman & Vijayendra Rao, 2004. "The Determinants of Gender Equity in India: Examining Dyson and Moore's Thesis with New Data," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 30(2), pages 239-268, June.
    2. Lucia Corno & Nicole Hildebrandt & Alessandra Voena, 2020. "Age of Marriage, Weather Shocks, and the Direction of Marriage Payments," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 88(3), pages 879-915, May.
    3. Alaka Malwade Basu, 1999. "Fertility Decline and Increasing Gender Imbalance in India, Including a Possible South Indian Turnaround," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 30(2), pages 237-263, April.
    4. Botticini, Maristella, 1999. "A Loveless Economy? Intergenerational Altruism and the Marriage Market in a Tuscan Town, 1415–1436," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 59(1), pages 104-121, March.
    5. Francis Bloch & Vijayendra Rao, 2002. "Terror as a Bargaining Instrument: A Case Study of Dowry Violence in Rural India," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 92(4), pages 1029-1043, September.
    6. Sonia Bhalotra & Abhishek Chakravarty & Dilip Mookherjee & Francisco J. Pino, 2019. "Property Rights and Gender Bias: Evidence from Land Reform in West Bengal," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 11(2), pages 205-237, April.
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