Description:

Seema Jayachandran (Northwestern): "Son Preference and Fertility in India"  

Abstract: In India, the eldest son is responsible for supporting his parents in old age, and he plays important roles in Hindu funeral rites. Having a son to fulfill these roles is very important to couples, and parents tend to favor their eldest son over their other children. This talk will discuss how eldest-son preference strongly shapes couples’ fertility decisions and their investments in their children in India, with important implications for child health.