Full Citation

Title: Culture and Son Preference: Evidence from Immigrants to the United States

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2021

ISBN:

ISSN: 2325-8012

DOI: 10.1002/SOEJ.12509

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID:

Abstract: This paper extends the existing literature on son preference using an epidemiological approach to determine which cultural beliefs contribute most to son preference. We measure son preference by the increased fertility response due to a first-born female child. The coefficient giving the increase in the fertility response to a first-born female associated with a change in the equity index grows by over 50% when religious variables are included. We believe this highlights the importance of controlling for multiple cultural factors which may be correlated across home countries. The analysis shows that the major cultural determinants of son preference are gender economic inequities, while measures of women's relative educational and political standing are largely irrelevant. Across the distribution of economic equity on our sample, the fertility response to a first-born female change from a 6.5% increase to a 1.6% decrease in the average number of children per household.

Url: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/soej.12509

Url: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/soej.12509

Url: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/soej.12509

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Jergins, William

Periodical (Full): Southern Economic Journal

Issue: 1

Volume: 88

Pages: 168-198

Data Collections: IPUMS CPS

Topics: Family and Marriage, Fertility and Mortality, Gender

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