Economic, Social Change and Son-Preference in Nepal

The purpose of this study is to clarify the promotion factors of son-preference, such as the neglect of female child, trafficking of girls and the interruption of the female fetus, in Nepal. According to UNDP (2010), the number of the “missing women” in Nepal is estimated to be about 0.1million. Republica, local newspaper, on 29 Nov 2012 reported that the female population is 2.3 percent less than male in the 0-10 year age group in the latest census.

In this study, the findings of the ongoing research implemented in seven districts in Nepal, during Mar 2012 –Mar 2014, will be shown. The questionnaire survey of 1500 men and women both married and unmarried 18-80 year-old were selected based on a multi-staged random sampling technique. The data will be analyzed by modified framework of sustainable livelihood approach. This framework consists of three components such as livelihood assets, policy institution process and livelihood outcome (Chambers and Conway1992). This leads to analyze consequences among these three components. Livelihood assets, furthermore, consist of financial capital, natural capital, physical capital, human capital and social capital.

Former studies reveals the correlation between the property (financial capital, natural capital), relatively high educational level (human capital) and son preference (Clark2008; Banerjee2012; Republica 2012) .In this study, the correlation among social institution such as family structure, 5 capitals and son preference, will be analyzed, in addition to the former studies.

As the result, following three findings have been verified; (1) Even though luck of some of capitals, those who has variety of network does not tend to be son preference, (2) Even though abundant in capitals, those who live in extended family tend to be son preference, (3) Those who have female family member who support family economically does not tend to be son preference.