ERIC Number: EJ1013216
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 35
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-166X
EISSN: N/A
Prenatal Sex Selection and Missing Girls in China: Evidence from the Diffusion of Diagnostic Ultrasound
Chen, Yuyu; Li, Hongbin; Meng, Lingsheng
Journal of Human Resources, v48 n1 p36-70 Win 2013
How much of the increase in sex ratio (male to female) at birth since the
early 1980s in China is attributed to increased prenatal sex selection? This
question is addressed by exploiting the differential introduction of diagnostic
ultrasound in the country during the 1980s, which significantly reduced
the cost of prenatal sex selection. We find that the improved local access to
ultrasound technology has resulted in a substantial increase in sex ratio at
birth. Our estimates indicate that roughly 40 to 50 percent of the increase
in sex imbalance at birth can be explained by local access to ultrasound
examinations. (Contains 9 tables, 8 figures, and 29 footnotes.)
Descriptors: Sex, Foreign Countries, Pregnancy, Diagnostic Tests, Public Policy, Costs, Prenatal Care, Birth, Access to Health Care, Preferences, Sons
University of Wisconsin Press. 1930 Monroe Street, Madison, WI 53711-2059. Tel: 608-263-0668; Fax: 608-263-1173; e-mail: journals@uwpress.wisc.edu; Web site: http://www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: China
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A