Kinked economic growth: insights from gender lens

The long-standing cultural customs and theories of gender imbalance posit that widening gender gaps can dampen the growth prospects of a nation. The present study traces the reasons behind persisting meta-son preferences that contribute towards skewed sex ratios and the impact of such stormy preferences on the economic growth of the nation. To substantiate the same, data is used from the fourth wave of the National Family and Health Survey conducted in 2015-2016, Economic Survey, 2018 and Gender Gap Index 2018. The responses were gathered with the help of semi-structured personal interview conducted in the southeastern region of Punjab, India. Using IPA, the study found that meta-son preferences will lead to privation of human capital thereby limiting productive capacities. The study will be an insight especially for the Punjab government officials for setting up of future policies to counter the same. Applying these findings will help eradicate the post natal discrimination.