Sex-ratio Imbalance in Asia: Trends, Consequences and Policy Responses

This paper offers a regional overview of the mechanisms and consequences of the growing gender imbalances, as observed today in Asia. The extent and timings of the trend towards more masculine population is examined, as well as its demographic determinants such as sex ratio at birth and mortality differentials. This phenomenon is also characterised by distinctive regional and social variations within Asian countries. A set of population projections for four countries and regions over the 2000-50 period illustrates the potential implications of various scenarios of skewed sex ratio at birth on society. A general explanatory framework that accounts for increasing sex ratio among children is examined and the roles both of son preference and of newly available sex-determination technology is presented. The last part of this review is devoted to the future prospects of gender imbalance in Asia, as well as the potential “tragedy of the commons” resulting from it. The responses by government authorities and civil society organisations to this rising peril are discussed.