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The Impact of Natural Disasters on Womenʼs Empowerment in Rural Vietnam

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  • Hoang, Trung Xuan
  • Nga, Van Thi Le

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of natural disasters on womenʼs empowerment in rural Vietnam. Using Vietnam Access to Resources Household Surveys 2008 and 2010, we find strong evidence on the impact of natural disasters on womenʼs empowerment. Non-parametric methods also corroborate this finding. Our estimates are strong for different model specifications and different measures of womenʼs empowerment. We also discuss channels through which natural disasters affect womenʼs empowerment. In an agrarian society, men have an advantage in agricultural activities relative to women, therefore women have less power within households compared with men. Our empirical results show that higher number of natural disasters results in a reduction in agricultural income. This decreases menʼs power relative to womenʼs power within households. The impact of number of natural disasters on womenʼs empowerment is statistically insignificant for households with lower shares of farm income while it is statistically significant for households with higher shares of farm income. Leveraging a test of exogeneity by Caetano (2015), we document the causal relationship between natural disasters and womenʼs empowerment.

Suggested Citation

  • Hoang, Trung Xuan & Nga, Van Thi Le, 2021. "The Impact of Natural Disasters on Womenʼs Empowerment in Rural Vietnam," Hitotsubashi Journal of Economics, Hitotsubashi University, vol. 62(2), pages 101-123, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:hit:hitjec:v:62:y:2021:i:2:p:101-123
    DOI: 10.15057/hje.2021005
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