Text and code for "Birth Spacing and Fertility in the Presence of Son Preference and Sex-Selective Abortions: India's Experience Over Four Decades," forthcoming in Demography
P. 6: “As women’s education increases, their productivity in the production of offspring human capital also increases. With relatively more boys born because of increased access to sex-selective abortions and the increasing income potential for (male) offspring, demand for better-educated women can increase, even if they do not participate in the labor market.” I am unclear as to why this argument is included. It needs explanation. Is this related to length of birth intervals here? Or is this mentioned because women’s education and increasing demand for better-education women will actually lower the sex ratio?
P. 6: “As women’s education increases, their productivity in the production of offspring human capital also increases. With relatively more boys born because of increased access to sex-selective abortions and the increasing income potential for (male) offspring, demand for better-educated women can increase, even if they do not participate in the labor market.” I am unclear as to why this argument is included. It needs explanation. Is this related to length of birth intervals here? Or is this mentioned because women’s education and increasing demand for better-education women will actually lower the sex ratio?