Is Gender Destiny? Gender Bias and Intergenerational Educational Mobility in India

62 Pages Posted: 29 Mar 2021 Last revised: 27 Apr 2023

See all articles by M. Shahe Emran

M. Shahe Emran

George Washington University - Department of Economics

Hanchen Jiang

University of North Texas - Department of Economics

Forhad Shilpi

World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG)

Date Written: March 22, 2021

Abstract

We study intergenerational educational mobility in India, using estimating equations derived from theory that incorporates gender bias in the family, school, and labor market. Evidence rejects the linear model, and finds a concave mobility curve irrespective of gender and location. Daughters of uneducated fathers face the lowest mobility. The gender gap declines with father's education, but son preference does not. Only urban college-educated households achieve gender parity despite biased financial investments. Evidence and theoretical insights suggest important roles for parental nonfinancial inputs and selective abortions. A comparison of patrilineal and matrilineal states highlights the importance of social norms.

Keywords: Gender Bias, Intergenerational Mobility, Education, Becker-Tomes Model, Heterogeneity, Son Preference, Unwanted Girls, India, Patrilineal, Matrilineal, Coresidency Bias

JEL Classification: I24, J62, J16, O20

Suggested Citation

Emran, M. Shahe and Jiang, Hanchen and Shilpi, Forhad, Is Gender Destiny? Gender Bias and Intergenerational Educational Mobility in India (March 22, 2021). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3812417 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3812417

M. Shahe Emran

George Washington University - Department of Economics ( email )

2115 G Street NW
302 Monroe Hall
Washington, DC 20052
United States

Hanchen Jiang (Contact Author)

University of North Texas - Department of Economics ( email )

Denton, TX 76203-1457
United States

Forhad Shilpi

World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG) ( email )

1818 H. Street, N.W.
MSN3-311
Washington, DC 20433
United States
202-458-7476 (Phone)
202-522-1151 (Fax)

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