Sex Selection and Gender Balance

V Bhaskar

American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, 2011, vol. 3, issue 1, 214-44

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)

JEL-codes: J12 J13 J16 O15 P23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
Note: DOI: 10.1257/mic.3.1.214
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (35)

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Working Paper: Sex selection and gender balance (2010)
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