|
on Demographic Economics |
|
Issue of 2012‒01‒10
seven papers chosen by Clarence Nkengne Tsimpo University of Montreal and World Bank Group |
| By: | Karbownik, Krzysztof (Uppsala University); Myck, Michal (Centre for Economic Analysis, CenEA) |
| Abstract: | We examine the relationship of child gender with family and economic outcomes using a large dataset from the Polish Household Budgets' Survey (PHBS) for years 2003-2009. Apart from studying the effects of gender on family stability, fertility and mothers' labor market outcomes, we take advantage of the PHBS' detailed expenditure module to examine effects of gender on consumption patterns. We find that a first born daughter is significantly less likely to be living with her father compared to a first born son and that the probability of having the second child is negatively correlated with a first born daughter. Using the context of the collective model we provide interpretation of these results from the perspective of individual parental gender preferences. We also examine the potential effects of sample selection bias which may affect the results and may be important for other findings in the literature. Labor supply of mothers and overall child-related consumption is not affected by gender of the first child, but the pattern of expenditure significantly varies between those with first born sons and first born daughters. One possible interpretation of the findings is that Polish fathers have preferences for sons and Polish mothers have preferences for daughters. Expenditure patterns suggest potential early determination of gender roles – mommies' girls get dresses and daddies' boys get toys. |
| Keywords: | gender preferences, fertility, child outcomes, family structure |
| JEL: | J13 J12 J16 J22 |
| Date: | 2011–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6232&r=dem |
| By: | Amarante, Veronica (Universidad de la República, Uruguay); Manacorda, Marco (Queen Mary, University of London); Miguel, Edward (University of California, Berkeley); Vigorito, Andrea (Universidad de la República, Uruguay) |
| Abstract: | There is limited empirical evidence on whether unrestricted cash social assistance to poor pregnant women improves children's birth outcomes. Using program administrative micro-data matched to longitudinal vital statistics on the universe of births in Uruguay, we estimate that participation in a generous cash transfer program led to a sizeable 15% reduction in the incidence of low birthweight. Improvements in mother nutrition and a fall in labor supply, out-of-wedlock births and mother's smoking all appear to contribute to the effect. We conclude that, by improving child health, unrestricted unconditional cash transfers may help break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. |
| Keywords: | welfare transfers, birth outcomes |
| JEL: | J88 I38 J13 |
| Date: | 2011–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6231&r=dem |
| By: | Doepke, Matthias (Northwestern University); Tertilt, Michèle (University of Mannheim); Voena, Alessandra (Harvard Kennedy School) |
| Abstract: | Women's rights and economic development are highly correlated. Today, the discrepancy between the legal rights of women and men is much larger in developing compared to developed countries. Historically, even in countries that are now rich women had few rights before economic development took off. Is development the cause of expanding women's rights, or conversely, do women's rights facilitate development? We argue that there is truth to both hypotheses. The literature on the economic consequences of women's rights documents that more rights for women lead to more spending on health and children, which should benefit development. The political-economy literature on the evolution of women's rights finds that technological change increased the costs of patriarchy for men, and thus contributed to expanding women's rights. Combining these perspectives, we discuss the theory of Doepke and Tertilt (2009), where an increase in the return to human capital induces men to vote for women's rights, which in turn promotes growth in human capital and income per capita. |
| Keywords: | women's rights, political economy, development |
| JEL: | J10 N30 O10 |
| Date: | 2011–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6215&r=dem |
| By: | Bhalotra, Sonia R. (University of Bristol); Clots-Figueras, Irma (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid) |
| Abstract: | We investigate whether politician gender influences policy outcomes in India. We focus upon antenatal and postnatal public health provision since the costs of poor services in this domain are disproportionately borne by women. Accounting for potential endogeneity of politician gender and the sample composition of births, we find that a one standard deviation increase in women's political representation results in a 1.5 percentage point reduction in neonatal mortality. Women politicians are more likely to build public health facilities and encourage antenatal care, institutional delivery and immunization. The results are topical given that a bill proposing quotas for women in state assemblies is currently pending in the Indian Parliament. |
| Keywords: | political identity, gender, mortality, health, social preferences, India |
| JEL: | H41 I18 O15 |
| Date: | 2011–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6216&r=dem |
| By: | Wilkins, Roger (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research); Wooden, Mark (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research) |
| Abstract: | Empirical studies have consistently reported that rates of involuntary job separation, or dismissal, are significantly lower among female employees than among males. Only rarely, however, have the reasons for this differential been the subject of detailed investigation. In this paper, household panel survey data from Australia are used that also find higher dismissal rates among men than among women. This differential, however, largely disappears once controls for industry and occupation are included. These findings suggest that the observed gender differential primarily reflects systematic differences in the types of jobs into which men and women select. |
| Keywords: | dismissals, gender differentials, involuntary job separations, HILDA Survey, Australia |
| JEL: | J16 J63 J71 |
| Date: | 2011–12 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6225&r=dem |
| By: | Aoki, Masahiko (Asian Development Bank Institute) |
| Abstract: | Based on the variable rate of gross domestic product per capita growth and its sources, this paper first identifies five phases of economic development that are common to China, Japan, and Korea: M (Malthusian), G (government-led), K (à la Kuznets), H (human capital based) and PD (post demographic-transition). But there are also marked differences in the onset, duration, and institutional forms of these phases across these economies. In order to understand these differences, this paper explores the agrarian origins of institutions in Qing China and Tokugawa Japan (and briefly Chosŏn Korea) and their path-dependent transformations over those phases. In doing so, the paper employs game-theoretic reasoning and interpretations of divergent institutional evolution between China and Japan, which also clarifies the simplicity of prevailing arguments that identify East Asian developmental and institutional features with authoritarianism, collectivism, kinship-dominance, Confucianism and the like. Finally, the paper examines the relevance of the foregoing developmental discussions to the institutional agendas faced by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Japan in their respective emergent phase-transitions. In what way can the PRC avoid the “middle income trap”? What institutional shortcomings become evident from the Fukushima catastrophe and how can they be overcome in an aging Japan? |
| Keywords: | development phases; institutional evolution; agrarian origin; prc economy; middle income trap; post demographic transition; east asia; norm |
| JEL: | J11 N15 N35 N55 O15 O43 O53 P51 |
| Date: | 2012–01–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:adbiwp:0340&r=dem |
| By: | Tabuga, Aubrey D.; Mina, Christian D. |
| Abstract: | Addressing gender gaps is a major development objective anywhere in the world. This paper aims to illustrate that this is far more critical in the presence of another social layer – disability. Among persons with disability (PWDs), the gap between men and women are more distinct, their conditions more dismal with poverty as their needs are different. Apart from poverty, discrimination and prejudice are the major challenges that persons with disabilities face in their everyday life. Because they face various social, physical, and economic barriers, policies should gear toward formulating rights-based and comprehensive actions to improve their well-being. In formulation of effective policy actions, data and information are critical. However, data collection on disability in many countries is at an early stage of development because it is given low priority or often excluded from official statistics. The ESCAP noted that the lack of availability and the quality of demographic and socioeconomic indicators concerning disability continue to be major challenges. This paper aims to fill in this information gap. It discusses the conditions of men and women with disability using a set of pioneering surveys conducted in the Philippines. The goal is to illustrate the gender disparities and to draw useful insights on how stakeholders can address this issue. |
| Keywords: | Philippines, persons with disability, gender studies |
| Date: | 2011 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:phd:dpaper:dp_2011-32&r=dem |