RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Democracy and Demography: Societal Effects of Fertility Limits on Local Leaders JF Journal of Human Resources JO J Hum Resour FD University of Wisconsin Press SP 1016-8308R2 DO 10.3368/jhr.54.1.1016.8308R2 A1 S Anukriti A1 Abhishek Chakravarty YR 2017 UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2017/09/01/jhr.54.1.1016.8308R2.abstract AB We investigate whether restricting elected leadership positions to candidates with “desirable” characteristics leads to the society-wide adoption of those characteristics in a democracy with high political participation. Exploiting quasi-experimental variation in fertility limits imposed on village council members in India to curb population growth, we find that rural couples significantly decreased fertility in response and child survival improved. The limits however also increased the already male-biased sex ratio at birth in castes with strong son preference.