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

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  • Prasad, Niranjana

    (Université catholique de Louvain, LIDAM/CORE, Belgium)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Prasad, Niranjana, 2022. "Impact of Forced Sterilization on Female Labor Market Outcomes: Evidence from India," LIDAM Discussion Papers CORE 2022023, Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE).
    • Handle: RePEc:cor:louvco:2022023
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    India ; Emergency ; family planning ; sterilization ; labor market outcomes;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure

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