Reproducibility package for Wealth, Marriage, and Sex Selection
Reference ID
PP_IND_2024_81
Author(s)
Girija Borker, Jan Eeckhout, Nancy Luke, Shantidani Minz, Kaivan Munshi, Soumya Swaminathan
Collections
Metadata
Created on
Feb 09, 2024
Last modified
May 06, 2025
Overview
Abstract
Two mechanisms have been proposed to explain sex selection in India: son preference in which parents desire a male heir and daughter aversion in which dowry payments make parents worse off with girls. Our model incorporates both mechanisms, providing micro-foundations, based on the organization of the marriage institution, for daughter aversion. Marital matching, sex selection, and dowries are jointly determined in the model, whose implications are tested on a representative sample of rural households. Simulations of the model indicate that existing policies targeting daughter aversion might exacerbate the problem, while identifying other policies that could be effective.
Reproducibility Package
Scripts
Title
Reproducibility package for Wealth, Marriage, and Sex Selection
Date
2025-04
Dependencies
Stata dependencies are listed in the ado folder.
Matlab: global optimization toolbox
Instructions
See README in the reproducibility package.
Notes
Computational reproducibility verified by the Development Impact (DIME) Analytics team, World Bank.
Source code repository
| Repository name | URI |
|---|---|
| Reproducible Research Repository (World Bank) | https://reproducibility.worldbank.org |
Reproducibility
Technology environment
Paper exhibits were reproduced in two computers with the following specifications:
Matlab code:
- OS: Windows 10 Enterprise
- Processor: Intel(R) Xeon(R) Gold 6132 CPU @ 2.60GHz, 2600 Mhz, 16 Core(s), 16 Logical Processor(s)
- Memory available: 128 GB
- Software version: Matlab 2024b
Stata code:
- OS: Windows Server 2019 Standard
- Processor: Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E7-4850 v4 @ 2.10GHz 2.10GHz (16 processors)
- Memory available: 64 GB
- Software version: Stata 18.0 MP
Technology requirements
Runtime: 3 weeks
Reproduction instructions
- Secure Access to Data: Download the datasets not included in the package. Some data required for replication is not publicly available and needs to be purchased. See subsection Datasets and the README for more details
- Download and Place Data: Once the data is downloaded, users should place it in the appropriate folder.
- Run the Package: After placing the data in the folder:
- Update the directory in the scripts 1_master, 2_master, and 3_master.
- Run the code in the order specified in the README.
Since all the data is not included, the package includes the results produced by replicators in the Results folder. These files can be used to review the results presented in the paper.
Data
Datasets
Name
South India Community Health Study (SICHS)
Note
Source: The World Bank Microdata Library
Notes:
The datasets available on the Microdata Library differ slightly from those used by the reproducibility team during verification, as the public versions exclude variables containing personally identifiable information (PII). As a result, some code files may not run in full. Specifically, the following do-files are affected:
code/stata/subcode/1_1_ind_cleaning_akhil.do;
code/stata/7_bootstrap_breg_ar.do;
code/stata/15_marriage_analysis_ar1.do.
All datasets listed below are available on the Microdata Library. Datasets marked with an asterisk (*) differ from those used in the verification process due to the exclusion of PII variables:
(1) Located at data/raw/FPR. File names: FPR_SEC_C_P1, FPR_SEC_E_P2.
(2) Located at data/raw/MPR. File names: MPR_SEC_A_edit, MPR_SEC_A_PGI, MPR_SEC_E_comb, MPR_SEC_E_P2, MPR_SEC_S_comb.
(3) Located at *data/raw/ROSTER. File names: HOUSEROSTER_P2, HOUSEROSTER_P2_edit, HOUSEROSTER_P2forE3_edit, HOUSEROSTER_P2forE10_edit.
(4) Located at data/raw/SPO. File name: SPO_SEC_B.
(5) Located at *data/raw/2017-11-23_married_couples_pred_income_1871.dta.
(6) Located at *data/raw/2017-12-07-Dowry_income.dta.
(7) Located at *data/raw/CompleteData_Rough_10Oct2015.dta.
Access policy
The datasets are available as licensed files.
License URL
https://microdata.worldbank.org/index.php/terms-of-use
Data URL
https://microdata.worldbank.org/index.php/catalog/6652/study-description#doc_desc.title_statement
Name
Madras District Village Census, 1871 (North Arcot, South Arcot, Chingleput, Salem)
Note
Source: Data compiled by the authors in 2013 using the books listed below, accessed at the British Library in London.
Books: Madras Districts: Census statement of population of 1871 in each village of the North Arcot District arranged according to area, caste and occupation. Madras: Foster Press, 1874. Pages: 1 – 492; Madras Districts: Census statement of population of 1871 in each village of the South Arcot District arranged according to area, caste and occupation. Madras: Adelphi Press, 1874. Pages: 1 – 269; Madras Districts: Census statement of population of 1871 in each village of the Chingleput District arranged according to area, caste and occupation. Madras: Scottish Press, 1874. Pages: 1-199; Madras Districts: Census statement of population of 1871 in each village of the Salem District arranged according to area, caste and occupation. Madras: Lawrence Asylum Press, 1874. Pages: 1 – 432.
Located at: data/raw
File names: Arcot_area.csv, Arcot_caste.csv, Arcot_occupation.csv, Master_v1.csv, Predicted1871IncomeForSICHS.dta, TamilNadu-Habitations_Original.dta, Tirupattu_area.csv, Tirupattur_caste.csv, Tirupattur_occupation.csv, Wallajah_area.csv, Wallajah_caste.csv, Wallajah_occupation.csv
Access policy
The data is not included in the reproducibility package, and no formal access procedure is documented. As the data was compiled directly from physical materials at the British Library, it cannot be redistributed.
Name
Demographic and Socioeconomic Indicators – South India
Note
Source: Data accessed from Indiastat.com
Notes: The table "Age-Group Wise Percentage of Population by Sex and Marital Status (Rural and Urban)" was downloaded for Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu for the year 2011, and additionally for Karnataka for 2018. For India, the following tables were used: State-wise Total Population by Residence and Sex (2011 Census); Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) by Different Age Groups (in per 1000 persons) and Sex in Rural India (2009–2010); State-wise Religious Population by Residence; State-wise Child Sex Ratio (Age Group 0–6 Years) by Residence; State-wise Sex Ratio (Female per 1000 Males); State-wise Literacy Rate by Residence and Sex.
Located at: data/raw
File name: tableA1_S1_TN_SICHS comparison.xlsx
Access policy
The data is not included in the package. It can be accessed by obtaining a paid subscription to Indiastat and following the access instructions provided in the README.
Name
Unweighted Random Samples of 12 Caste Identifiers
Note
Source: Data complied by the authors.
Notes: Instructions to create the dataset are included in the README.
Located at: data/raw
File name: unweighted_samples_12_castes.csv
Access policy
Included in the package.
Name
Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS)
Note
Source: India: Standard DHS, 2005–06 Dataset; India: Standard DHS, 2015–16 Dataset.
Notes: To download the datasets, please register on the website, request access to the India data, and download the Individual Recode Stata datasets for 2005–06 and 2015–16.
Located at: data/raw
File names: IAIR52FL.dta and IAIR74FL.dta
Access policy
The dataset is not included in the package. Currently, the data cannot be accessed, as new user registration on The DHS Program website is temporarily unavailable due to an ongoing review of U.S. foreign assistance programs.
License URL
https://dhsprogram.com/data/Terms-of-Use.cfm
Data statement
Some data is restricted and has not been included in the reproducibility package. For more details, please refer to the README file.
Description
Output
Type
Journal article
Title
Wealth, Marriage, and Sex Selection
Authors
Girija Borker, Jan Eeckhout, Nancy Luke, Shantidani Minz, Kaivan Munshi, Soumya Swaminathan
Authors
| Author | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
| Girija Borker | World Bank and IZA | gborker@workdbank.org |
| Jan Eeckhout | UPF Barcelona (ICREA-BSE-CREi) | jan.eeckhout@upf.edu |
| Nancy Luke | Pennsylvania State University | nkl10@psu.edu |
| Shantidani Minz | Christian Medical College, Vellore | shantidanim@cmcvellore.ac.in |
| Kaivan Munshi | Yale University and Toulouse School of Economics | kaivan.munshi@yale.edu |
| Soumya Swaminathan | World Health Organization | swaminathans@who.int |
Date of production
2025-05
Scope and coverage
Geographic locations
| Location | Code |
|---|---|
| India | IND |
Keywords
Family Economics
Social Norms
Marriage Market
Sex Selection
Caste
Assortative Matching
Wealth Distribution
Inequality
Control Function
Topics
Disclaimer
Disclaimer
The materials in the reproducibility packages are distributed as they were prepared by the staff of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this event do not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank, the Executive Directors of the World Bank, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the materials included in the reproducibility package.
Access and rights
License
| Name | URI |
|---|---|
| Modified BSD3 | https://opensource.org/license/bsd-3-clause/ |
Contacts
Contacts
| Name | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
| Girija Borker | World Bank | gborker@worldbank.org |
| Reproducibility WB | World Bank | reproducibility@worldbank.org |
Information on metadata
Producers
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reproducibility WBG | DIME | World Bank - Development Impact Department | Verification and preparation of metadata |
Date of Production
2025-05-05
Document version
1