https://repository.auw.edu.bd/handle/123456789/1159 2026-06-10T02:36:47Z https://repository.auw.edu.bd/handle/123456789/1235 The Co-existence of Biased Sex Ratio and Crime against Women in India: Examining the Causality Das, Suparna Preference for a son has deep historical roots in India and is evident in its highly skewed sex ratios. The country has recently been on the news often for heinous rape incidences. It registered a 27 percent annual growth rate in crime against women in 2013. The economic theory indicates that the scarcity of girls should make the girls dearer to society, but the reality is the opposite in India. It creates the puzzle that, despite scarcity, India still does not value their women. Instead, the statistics show that crime against women is increasing faster than the overall crime. Therefore, it becomes interesting to explore the puzzle and to examine whether this coincidence of pro-male biased sex ratios and higher crime on women bears any empirical relationship in the case of India. The paper uses data from Census and National Crime Records Bureau for the analysis. The district- year panel analysis found a significant negative relation between sex ratios and crime against women. It is found that an increase in 1 female in the population of 1000 males, that is, a 1 unit increase in the youth sex ratio in favor of females, will decrease the crime against women by 0.53 percent, keeping other things the same. Further, it is also found that the impact of sex ratios is highest on domestic violence, followed by kidnapping compared to other crimes against women. 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.auw.edu.bd/handle/123456789/1233 Impact of ‘Having a Son’ on Women’s Intra-household Status: Evidence from India Das, Suparna Intra-household bargaining power differs between men and women for various reasons, primarily due to unequal social norms and differences in income. Patriarchal societies often put higher values to son(s) due to perceived higher utility gains from them compared to daughter(s). In such societies, child-bearing and childcare are considered to be women‟s primary responsibility, thus, women's fertility outputs can play an important role in their intra-household bargaining status. Using the National Family and Health Survey (2015) data on Indian couples, this paper examines the son-effect on women's say in different decision- making in the family. The probit estimations show that women with at least a son are 2 - 4 percent more likely (significantly) to have a say in different decisions compared to women with no son. Women with first born son have around 1 percent higher probability of having say in decisions compared to women with first born daughter. 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z