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Socio-Economic Determinants of Child and Juvenile Sex Ratios in India: A Longitudinal Analysis with District-Level Data

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  • Prabir C. Bhattacharya
  • Vibhor Saxena

Abstract

The paper examines the determinants of the child and juvenile sex ratios in India in a multivariate framework, using district level data from the 1981, 1991, and 2001 Indian population censuses. The results strongly suggest that there are deep rooted cultural factors at play in the determination of the sex ratios at birth and at early ages, cultural factors that are not much responsive to the enhancement of women's agency or to economic development. However, the results also show that the behaviour of the juvenile sex ratio does respond to the enhancement of women's agency and to economic development. Policy implications of these findings are considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Prabir C. Bhattacharya & Vibhor Saxena, 2015. "Socio-Economic Determinants of Child and Juvenile Sex Ratios in India: A Longitudinal Analysis with District-Level Data," Heriot-Watt University Economics Discussion Papers 1503, Department of Economics, School of Management and Languages, Heriot Watt University.
  • Handle: RePEc:hwe:hwuedp:1503
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    File URL: http://www.hw.ac.uk/schools/management-languages/documents/research/HW_DP_2015_03.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fred Arnold & Sunita Kishor & T. K. Roy, 2002. "Sex‐Selective Abortions in India," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 28(4), pages 759-785, December.
    2. Prabir C. Bhattacharya, 2006. "Economic Development, Gender Inequality, and Demographic Outcomes: Evidence from India," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 32(2), pages 263-292, June.
    3. Woojin Chung & Monica Das Gupta, 2007. "The Decline of Son Preference in South Korea: The Roles of Development and Public Policy," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 33(4), pages 757-783, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Antara Bhattacharyya & Sushil Kr. Haldar, 2020. "Socio-economic development and child sex ratio in India: revisiting the debate using spatial panel data regression," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 22(2), pages 305-327, December.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J17 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Value of Life; Foregone Income
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy

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