This report reminds us all that children are a source of labor in countries such as India and China.

Girls can be seen as an expense with the investment returns going to the families into which they marry.

Ultrasound scans can tell parents a baby’s gender. This story says that millions of couples have aborted a daughter, hoping for a son later.

These countries are altering the natural balance between genders. There always are more boys born than girls but it evens out because baby boys are more likely to die as infants. In these countries, the ratio of baby boys to baby girls is an eye-popping 120: 100.

Down the road, there will be a shortage of wives and girls will be “in demand” again. But in the meantime…

The Economist

“IMAGINE you are one half of a young couple expecting your first child in a fast-growing, poor country. You are part of the new middle class; your income is rising; you want a small family. But traditional mores hold sway around you, most important in the preference for sons over daughters. Perhaps hard physical labour is still needed for the family to make its living. Perhaps only sons may inherit land. Perhaps a daughter is deemed to join another family on marriage and you want someone to care for you when you are old. Perhaps she needs a dowry.

“Now imagine that you have had an ultrasound scan; it costs $12, but you can afford that. The scan says the unborn child is a girl. You yourself would prefer a boy; the rest of your family clamours for one. You would never dream of killing a baby daughter, as they do out in the villages. But an abortion seems different. What do you do?

“For millions of couples, the answer is: abort the daughter, try for a son. In China and northern India more than 120 boys are being born for every 100 girls. Nature dictates that slightly more males are born than females to offset boys’ greater susceptibility to infant disease. But nothing on this scale.”

Source: The Economist, March 4, 2010