Impact of Forced Sterilization on Female Labor Market Outcomes: Evidence from India

Niranjana Prasad ()
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Niranjana Prasad: Université catholique de Louvain, LIDAM/CORE, Belgium

No 2022023, LIDAM Discussion Papers CORE from Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE)

Abstract: I investigate the impact of the 1975-76 forced sterilization campaign carried out by the Indira Gandhi government in India on women’s long run labor market outcomes. Using large data samples from India and accounting for endogeneity concerns, I find that exposure to the forced sterilization campaign at the district-level reduces long-term labor market participation by 4.5% and 1.5% in agricultural and sales occupations and increases unemployment by 4.7% and I elucidate mechanisms. The proposed mechanism of this is the disutility derived from having a working wife. This result is contrary to existing literature that indicates that women’s access to contraception increases their labor market participation, in the context of coercive sterilization campaigns.

Keywords: India; Emergency; family planning; sterilization; labor market outcomes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J13 J21 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 27
Date: 2022-10-18
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem and nep-dev
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