Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/177096 
Year of Publication: 
2018
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 11292
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Leveraging close elections to generate quasi-random variation in the religious identity of state legislators in India, we find lower rates of female foeticide in districts with Muslim legislators, which we argue reflects a greater (religious) aversion to abortion among Muslims. These districts exhibit increases in fertility that offset the decrease in girl abortion. We find no evidence of greater postnatal neglect of girls once more girls are born. Our findings show that politician preferences over abortion influence abortion-related outcomes, most likely through greater enforcement of laws against sex determination.
Subjects: 
religion
politician identity
abortion
sex selection
fertility
infant mortality
India
Muslims
JEL: 
I15
J13
O15
P16
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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