Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/67330 
Year of Publication: 
2012
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 6847
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Son preference is widespread in a number of developing countries. Anecdotal evidence suggests that women may contribute to the persistence of this phenomenon because they derive substantial long-run non-monetary benefits from giving birth to a son in the form of an improvement in their intra-household position. This paper tests this hypothesis in the Indian context. The results suggest that for the most part there is little evidence of substantial female benefits, and any positive impacts of having a son disappear after six months. This implies that the female-specific self-interest in a son is probably much lower than commonly assumed.
Subjects: 
son preference
non-monetary benefits
bargaining power
intra-household allocation
India
JEL: 
D13
J12
J13
J16
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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