Sex Ratios and 'Prosperity Effect': What Do NSSO Data Reveal?

Economic and Political Weekly, Special Statistics - 36, October 11, 2003

24 Pages Posted: 17 Dec 2013

See all articles by Suddhasil Siddhanta

Suddhasil Siddhanta

Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics

Debasish Nandy

Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics

Date Written: October 11, 2003

Abstract

Perceptive scholars have repeatedly drawn policy makers’ attention to the pattern of masculine sex ratios in prosperous regions of India. However, direct evidence of the effect of prosperity on sex ratios has not been forthcoming. Such evidence is available nevertheless, through an unlikely source; the quinquennial surveys of household consumer expenditure from the NSSO (National Sample Survey Organisation). These surveys provide data on the family composition by AMPCE (Average Monthly Per Capita Expenditure); a good surrogate for prosperity. Analysis of the data from the 43rd (1987-88), 50th (1993-94) and the 55th (1999-2000) round show a clear trend of masculine sex ratios among the prosperous groups in nearly all the states and an intensification of such trend with time. Why it may be so needs serious consideration.

Keywords: Sex Ratio, Prosperity Effect, Gender Inequality

Suggested Citation

Siddhanta, Suddhasil and Nandy, Debasish, Sex Ratios and 'Prosperity Effect': What Do NSSO Data Reveal? (October 11, 2003). Economic and Political Weekly, Special Statistics - 36, October 11, 2003, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2368192

Suddhasil Siddhanta (Contact Author)

Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics ( email )

BMCC Road
Pune, Maharashtra 411004
India

Debasish Nandy

Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics ( email )

BMCC Road
Pune, Maharashtra 411004
India

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