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Marriage, Motherhood, and Women’s Employment in Rural India

Author

Listed:
  • Lahoti , Rahul

    (UNU-WIDER)

  • Abraham , Rosa

    (Azim Premji University)

  • Swaminathan, Hema

    (Asian Development Bank)

Abstract

We investigate the impact of marriage and childbirth on women’s labor market participation in rural India. In the absence of panel data, we employ a novel approach using Life History Calendar data to analyze women’s labor market trajectories from age 15 onward. Our event study models reveal that marriage leads to a significant and sustained increase in women’s labor supply, particularly in informal agricultural work. This increase is more pronounced among women from poorer households and those with working mothers. Notably, childbirth does not negatively impact labor supply; this differs from findings in developed countries. We attribute these results to early marriage and motherhood, low levels of economic development, and prevalence of informal employment. Our research highlights the crucial role of socioeconomic context in shaping the impact of life events on women’s labor market outcomes in developing economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Lahoti , Rahul & Abraham , Rosa & Swaminathan, Hema, 2024. "Marriage, Motherhood, and Women’s Employment in Rural India," ADB Economics Working Paper Series 757, Asian Development Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:adbewp:0757
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    marriage; motherhood penalty; women’s labor force participation; event studies; life history calendar (LHC);
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy

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