Gender Preferences in Africa: A Comparative Analysis of Fertility Choices

Pauline Rossi and Léa Rouanet
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Léa Rouanet: PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PSE - Paris-Jourdan Sciences Economiques - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CREST - Centre de Recherche en Économie et Statistique - ENSAI - Ecole Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Analyse de l'Information [Bruz] - X - École polytechnique - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris - ENSAE Paris - École Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Administration Économique - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

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Abstract: This paper proposes a new method to infer gender preferences from birth spacing. We apply it to Africa, where the least is known about gender preferences. We show that son preference is strong and increasing in North Africa. By contrast, most Sub-Saharan African countries display a preference for variety or no preference at all. Further analysis concludes that traditional family systems predict well the nature of gender preferences, while religion does not. Last, the magnitude of preferences is stronger for wealthier and more educated women.

Keywords: gender preferences; fertility; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-08
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (26)

Published in World Development, 2015, 72, pp.326-345. ⟨10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.03.010⟩

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Related works:
Journal Article: Gender Preferences in Africa: A Comparative Analysis of Fertility Choices (2015)
Working Paper: Gender Preferences in Africa: A Comparative Analysis of Fertility Choices (2015)
Working Paper: Gender Preferences in Africa: A Comparative Analysis of Fertility Choices (2015)
Working Paper: Gender Preferences in Africa: A Comparative Analysis of Fertility Choices (2015)
Working Paper: Gender Preferences in Africa: A Comparative Analysis of Fertility Choices (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-01510462

DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.03.010

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