Religion and Abortion: The Role of Politician Identity

Sonia Bhalotra, Lakshmi Iyer and Irma Clots Figueras
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Irma Clots-Figueras

No 16604, CEPR Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Policy Research

Abstract: Debates around abortion typically invoke religion and politics but there is no causal evidence of the impact of politician religion on abortion. Leveraging quasi-random variation in politician religion generated by close elections in India and controlling for the party affiliation of politicians, we find lower rates of sex-selective abortion in districts won by Muslim state legislators, consistent with a higher reported aversion to abortion among Muslims compared to Hindus. The competing hypothesis that this reflects weaker son preference among Muslims is undermined by stated preference data and by demonstrating that fertility and girl-biased infant mortality increase in Muslim-won districts.

Date: 2021-10
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Related works:
Journal Article: Religion and abortion: The role of politician identity (2021)
Working Paper: Religion and Abortion: The Role of Politician Identity (2021)
Working Paper: Religion and abortion: The role of politician identity (2021)
Working Paper: Religion and Abortion: The Role of Politician Identity (2018)
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