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Source: Journal of Applied Economics and Policy
Resulting in 1 citation.
1. Strow, Claudia W.
Brasfield, Chris
Divorce Probability and the "Preference" for Sons
Journal of Applied Economics and Policy 25,1 (2006): 42-55.
Also: http://www.economics.eku.edu/JAEP/jaep25(1)2006res.pdf
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Kentucky Economic Association
Keyword(s): Children; Divorce; Gender; Parenthood; Parents, Behavior

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

The introduction of new and relatively inexpensive technology for determining and controlling the gender of future children has prompted researchers to examine if a preference for male children exists in the United States. Several studies have found evidence that such a preference could in fact exist and might lead couples with daughters to experience a higher divorce rate than those with only sons. If such a preference does in fact exist, then gender balance consequences could be substantial. Much of the prior research in this area has neglected to control for documented correlates of divorce. While controlling for these correlates of divorce, this paper uses the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to examine if divorce likelihood differs for couples with no male children versus those with only male children or those with both sons and daughters. Our study reveals that while generally couples with a higher percentage of male children have lower divorce probabilities, those with a firstborn daughter experience lower divorce rates than those with a firstborn son. The marginal effect of a second child is a lower divorce rate, while the marginal effect of a third child is a higher rate of divorce. Fourth and subsequent children do not significantly affect the divorce likelihood.
Bibliography Citation
Strow, Claudia W. and Chris Brasfield. "Divorce Probability and the "Preference" for Sons." Journal of Applied Economics and Policy 25,1 (2006): 42-55.