Growth, health and gender imbalance: evidence from India

In an examination of the relationships between imbalanced gender ratios and the growth-health-poverty nexus, a simultaneous equation model (based on panel data) identifies an adverse impact of poor health conditions on the gender ratio. Better health services and health outcomes can raise the survival rate of girl children and women, while a higher gender ratio (a greater presence of women) is associated with an increased survival rate of girl children. Economic growth alone is not sufficient to curb gender inequality, but the female labour force participation rate does have favourable effects on the gender ratio, indicating the wide social and economic implications of women's access to resources.