Girls unwanted – The role of parents’ child-specific sex preference for children’s early mental development

Cara Ebert and Sebastian Vollmer

Journal of Health Economics, 2022, vol. 82, issue C

Abstract: We propose a novel son preference measure that relates the preference to a specific child. We find child-specific son preference to be more common among later born children and in families with fewer sons. Using the novel measure and an interaction instrumental variables approach, we estimate a penalty in early mental functions for unwanted girls of 0.7 standard deviations. This penalty appears to be partially driven by discrimination against girls and partially by pampering of boys. Children’s health and parental inputs do not mediate the effect from son preference to mental development. Our findings highlight the relevance of parents’ attitudes for a nurturing home environment and healthy brain development.

Keywords: Son preference; Early childhood; Mental development; Fertility; India (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 I15 J13 J16 J24 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:82:y:2022:i:c:s0167629622000108

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2022.102590

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