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

Prasad, Niranjana
(2022) , 27 pages

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  • Prasad, NiranjanaUCLouvain
    Author
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.
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Prasad, N. (2022). Impact of Forced Sterilization on Female Labor Market Outcomes: Evidence from India (LIDAM Discussion Paper CORE 2022/23). https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/101614