The Labor Supply Consequences of Having a Boy in China

51 Pages Posted: 27 Aug 2019 Last revised: 19 Jul 2024

See all articles by Shing-Yi B. Wang

Shing-Yi B. Wang

University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School

Date Written: August 2019

Abstract

Combining eight years of panel data with an event study approach, we show that rural Chinese women's labor supply falls for one year following the birth of a daughter before returning to their pre-birth levels. The negative impact of the birth of a son on women's labor supply is much larger in magnitude and persists for four years. We also find that households reduce their cigarette consumption more following the arrival of a boy than a girl. Furthermore, there is an increase in the mother's probability of being in school, her leisure time, and her participation in household decision-making following the birth of boys relative to daughters. There is no evidence of increases in investments in boys that would be complementary to mothers' time, such as breastfeeding, immunizations or consumption of milk or meat. Together, these results are consistent with the idea that mothers are rewarded for giving birth to boys, leading them to have more leisure and work less.

Suggested Citation

Wang, Shing-Yi B., The Labor Supply Consequences of Having a Boy in China (August 2019). NBER Working Paper No. w26185, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3442726

Shing-Yi B. Wang (Contact Author)

University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School ( email )

3641 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6365
United States

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