Community electrification and women’s autonomy

This study examines the effects of community-level electrification on women’s social autonomy in India using panel household survey, administrative and satellite data spanning over two decades. Using flexible difference-in-difference estimators, we find that higher community-level electricity hours improve women’s autonomy captured via reduced incidence of sexual violence against women, improved mobility, fertility choices, and access to health care. Results are robust to use of night-time luminosity as an alternative indicator for community electrification, most recent data on electrification and alternative longitudinal estimation techniques. A heterogeneity analysis shows that the effects are stronger in rural areas, where women’s autonomy is more restricted. We identify four main channels of the impact: paid employment, education, exposure to mass media and safety.