The Re-emergence of "Missing Women" in China. (24th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bulte, Erwin; Hsieh, Chih-Sheng; Tu, Qin; Wang, Ruixin
• Is Part Of: China quarterly. Number 248(2021)
• Page Start: 1200
• Page End: 1211
• Publication Date: 2021-12-24
• Subjects: missing women -- sex ratio -- "underreporting" of women -- Chinese Statistics Law -- population census -- one-child policy; "消失的"女性 -- 性别比 -- "被瞒报"女性 -- 中华人民共和国统计法 -- 人口普查 -- 计划生育政策; China -- History -- Periodicals; China -- Periodicals; 951
• DOI: 10.1017/S0305741021000503
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-7410

Abstract

Abstract: Empirical evidence suggests that close to 100 million women are "missing" worldwide. We revisit the empirical evidence for China, the country with the most missing women. Nearly ten million girls born in the 1980s and 1990s who were "missing" according to earlier census data can be found again in the 2010 population census. We discuss two possible explanations for the re-emergence of these formerly missing girls: the delayed registration of girls owing to economic reasons, and the response to amendments to the Chinese Statistics Law in 2009 and policy changes in the 2010 population census. Using the most recent statistics, we document patterns of the underreporting of women over time and across regions as well as explore the basic determinants of underreporting of women. Important policy challenges remain. For the unregistered children, the lack of access to public services will increase their vulnerability and adversely affect their quality of life.