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Baby Bonus, Fertility, and Missing Women

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  • Wookun Kim

    (Southern Methodist University)

Abstract

I present novel causal evidence on the effects of pro-natalist cash transfers in South Korea on fertility, the sex ratio at birth, and infant health. I exploit rich spatial and temporal variation in pro-natalist cash transfers and the universe of birth, death, and migrant registry records. The total fertility rate in 2015 would have been 4.7% lower without the cash transfers. Surprisingly, the cash transfers had the unintended consequence of correcting the unnaturally male-skewed sex ratio and lowering gestational age and birth weight. Negative selection into childbearing may explain these effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Wookun Kim, 2023. "Baby Bonus, Fertility, and Missing Women," Departmental Working Papers 2308, Southern Methodist University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:smu:ecowpa:2308
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    File URL: https://ftp1.economics.smu.edu/WorkingPapers/2023/KIM/KIM-2023-08.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Andra Hiriscau, 2024. "The Effect of Paid Maternity Leave on Fertility and Mothers’ Labor Force Participation," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 350-384, September.
    2. Lee, Hwanoong & Ko, Changsu & Kim, Wookun, 2024. "Local employment multiplier: Evidence from relocation of public-sector entities in South Korea," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    3. Hwanoong Lee & Changsu Ko & Wookun Kim, 2023. "Local Employment Multiplier: Evidence from Relocation of Public-Sector Entities in South Korea," CESifo Working Paper Series 10870, CESifo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    pro-natalist policies; cash transfer; fertility; neonatal health; missing women; son preference.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H40 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - General
    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy

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