Women's Power in the Household

Seema Jayachandran and Alessandra Voena

Journal of Economic Literature, 2026, vol. 64, issue 2, 447-97

Abstract: We examine women's household power in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), synthesizing theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence on its measurement, determinants, and consequences. We define women's household power as their influence over household choices, distinguishing it from broader empowerment concepts. We review economic models, including unitary, collective, and bargaining frameworks, and map these to empirical approaches. We then discuss measurement methods, such as structural estimation of consumption allocation, survey measures, and laboratory experiments. On the determinants of women's power, we find that some approaches, such as transfers targeted to women, show mixed results, while others, such as increasing women's control over their earnings, show clearer positive impacts. On the effects of women's power, we pay special attention to children's human capital. Few studies provide strong evidence that mothers invest more in children than fathers do, but collectively the evidence suggests such an effect. We conclude by highlighting research and methodological gaps.

JEL-codes: C78 D13 I38 J13 J16 J31 O12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Working Paper: Women's Power in the Household (2025)
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DOI: 10.1257/jel.20261779

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