Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/163091 
Year of Publication: 
2017
Series/Report no.: 
WIDER Working Paper No. 2017/121
Publisher: 
The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), Helsinki
Abstract: 
Drawing data from the India Human Development Survey 2011 and the year of the first election with reserved seats for women pradhans, I estimate the effect of the Panchayati Raj institutions on age and autonomy over marriage. Results indicate that women in local government decrease the likelihood of child marriage, and increase the age at first marriage and gauna. The effects seem to be driven by changes in gender and cultural norms, because there is a reduction in the prevalence of arranged marriages with minimum involvement of the bride. Overall results suggest a change in gender norms after 18 years of the implementation of reserved seats for women in local government.
Subjects: 
gender quotas
age at marriage
gender norms
JEL: 
J12
J16
O12
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
ISBN: 
978-92-9256-347-9
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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