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  3. American Economic Journal: Microeconomics
  4. February 2011
  5. Sex Selection and Gender Balance

Sex Selection and Gender Balance

  • V. Bhaskar
American Economic Journal: Microeconomics
vol. 3, no. 1, February 2011
(pp. 214-44)
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Abstract

We model the equilibrium sex ratio when parents can choose the sex of their child. With intrinsic son preference, sex selection results in a male-biased sex ratio. This is inefficient due to a marriage market congestion externality. Medical innovations that facilitate selection aggravate the inefficiency. If son preference arises endogenously, due to population growth causing an excess supply of women on the marriage market, selection may improve welfare. Empirically, sex selection causes an excess of males and reduces welfare in China. In most parts of India, cohort sizes are growing, implying an excess supply of women. (JEL J12, J13, J16, O15, P23)

Citation

Bhaskar, V. 2011. "Sex Selection and Gender Balance." American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, 3 (1): 214-44. DOI: 10.1257/mic.3.1.214

JEL Classification

  • J12 Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure; Domestic Abuse
  • J13 Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
  • J16 Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
  • O15 Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
  • P23 Socialist Systems and Transitional Economies: Factor and Product Markets; Industry Studies; Population
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