Gender inequality and intra-household bargaining power: empirical evidence from developed and developing countries.

Abstract

This thesis sheds new light on the link between gender inequality and intrahousehold bargaining power with respect to health-related outcomes, human capital, labour market and fertility. Gender specialisation and intrahousehold bargaining power in income production, as opposed to home production, might be responsible for asymmetric responses to partner’s health shock in terms of labour market and informal care. However, results show that no evidence emerges for gender-based behavioral responses driven by gender specialisation. Collective modelling of household decisions predicts that a change in bargaining- power resulting from a change in the distribution and control of resources, such as assets, might affect fertility outcomes. Increased female asset ownership induced a sizable and statistically significant reduction in fertility and has demographic implications for developing countries. Birth control rights and oral contraceptives have the potential to reduce gender inequality and increase women’s empowerment. Historically, in Europe, the pill induced a significant and sizable increase in women’s educational attainments and in labour market outcomes due to increased control over life choices.