Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/163030 
Year of Publication: 
2017
Series/Report no.: 
WIDER Working Paper No. 2017/64
Publisher: 
The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), Helsinki
Abstract: 
This paper investigates the impact of migration of male household heads on the autonomy of their spouses. Using panel household survey data from Ethiopia, the methodology mainly relies on an instrumental variables approach that addresses the endogeneity inherent in the relationship using past migration as the instrument and carefully paying attention to the role of remittances. We find consistent evidence that male migration increases female self-determination and decision-making power, and (to a lesser extent) the ability to protect one's interests. As all these variables measure autonomy, our results suggest that migration of husbands offers an opportunity for women to become more autonomous in traditional societies. Furthermore, through comparison with a household fixed-effects model with contrasting findings, our results indicate that a careful treatment of the inherent endogeneity is imperative.
Subjects: 
migration
women empowerment
female autonomy
JEL: 
D13
J16
O15
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
ISBN: 
978-92-9256-288-5
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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