The Effects of Coerced Sterilization: Evidence from Native American Women

Arcangelo Dimico () and Gaia Narciso ()
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Arcangelo Dimico: Queen's University Belfast
Gaia Narciso: Trinity College Dublin

No 19081, IZA Discussion Papers from IZA Network @ LISER

Abstract: Forced sterilization represents one of several coercive population control measures enacted during the 20th century. This paper examines the short- and long-run effects of coerced sterilization, drawing evidence from the experience of Native American women in the 1970s. Beyond reduced fertility, our findings indicate that, in the long run, Native American women exposed to forced sterilization experienced worse health outcomes, lower labor market participation, lower income, and decreased investment in their children’s education. We also examine the intergenerational transmission of fertility choices and find suggestive evidence of a reversal: children of mothers exposed to forced sterilization have higher fertility.

Keywords: sterilization; fertility; human capital; intergenerational transmission (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I15 J13 J15 N32 O12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-11
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:iza:izadps:dp19081

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