Did the Great Recession Affect Sex Ratios at Birth for Groups with a Son Preference?

Soohyung Lee and Chiara Orsini ()
Additional contact information
Chiara Orsini: University of Sheffield

No 10617, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper examines the extent to which the Great Recession affected gender composition at birth. We focus on ethnic minorities in the US known for a son preference – Chinese, Indians, and Koreans. Using the DID method, we find that in response to the Great Recession, the fraction of newborn boys increased among Chinese Americans. Our results suggest that a cultural norm, namely son preference, may be directly affected by economic conditions.

Keywords: missing girls; Great Recession; son preference; sex ratios; fertility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I1 J1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 12 pages
Date: 2017-03
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published - published in: Economics Letters, 2017, 154, 48 - 50

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Related works:
Journal Article: Did the Great Recession affect sex ratios at birth for groups with a son preference? (2017)
Working Paper: Did the Great Recession affect sex ratios at birth for groups with a son preference? (2017)
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