Replication data for: Are There Missing Girls in the United States? Evidence from Birth Data

We offer evidence of gender selection within the United States. Analysis of comprehensive birth data shows unusually high boy-birth percentages after 1980 among later children (most notably third and fourth children) born to Chinese and Asian Indian mothers. Based upon linked data from California, Asian Indian mothers are found to be significantly more likely to have a terminated pregnancy and to give birth to a boy when they have previously only given birth to girls. The observed boy-birth percentages are consistent with over 2,000 "missing" Chinese and Indian girls in the United States between 1991 and 2004. (JEL J11, J16)

本研究提供了美国境内存在性别选择行为的实证证据。通过对全面出生数据的分析可知，1980年之后，华裔与亚裔印度裔母亲所生育的后续子女（尤以第三、第四胎最为突出）的男婴出生率异乎寻常地偏高。基于加利福尼亚州的关联数据集，研究发现：若亚裔印度裔母亲此前仅诞下女儿，则其终止妊娠并生育男婴的概率显著更高。1991年至2004年间，美国观测到的男婴出生率情况，与同期境内超过2000名"缺失"的华裔及印度裔女婴的统计结果相一致。(JEL J11, J16)