Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/320497 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 17903
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This study examines the five-year impacts of a bicycle distribution program for adolescent girls in rural Zambia, implemented across 91 schools as part of a randomized controlled trial. While the program increased girls' self-reported empowerment and reduced experiences of domestic and intimate partner violence, it also led to higher rates of early marriage and teenage pregnancy–outcomes that run counter to the program's objectives. We explore mechanisms behind this paradox, including improved socioeconomic status and increased receipt of bride prices, which may reflect girls' higher perceived value in the marriage market. These findings suggest that girls may have exercised greater agency by making strategic decisions about marriage and childbearing. Our results underscore the complex interplay between empowerment, economic mobility, and local norms, and highlight the importance of accounting for potential unintended consequences when designing gender-focused development interventions.
Subjects: 
intimate partner violence
domestic violence
fertility
marriage
female empowerment
bicycles
Zambia
RCT
JEL: 
J12
J13
J16
O10
O15
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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