Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics
Discussion Paper Series in Economics,
Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics
No 15/2022: On the Doorstep of Adulthood: Empowering Economic and Fertility Choices of Young Women
Lars Ivar Oppedal Berge, Kjetil Bjorvatn (), Fortunata Makene, Linda Helgesson Sekei, Vincent Somville () and Bertil Tungodden ()
Additional contact information
Lars Ivar Oppedal Berge: Department of Business and Management, Postal: NHH, Department of Business and Management, Helleveien 30, N-5045 Bergen, Norway
Kjetil Bjorvatn: Dept. of Economics, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, Postal: NHH, Department of Economics, Helleveien 30, N-5045 Bergen, Norway
Fortunata Makene: Economic and Social Research Foundation
Linda Helgesson Sekei: NIRAS
Vincent Somville: Dept. of Economics, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, Postal: NHH, Department of Economics, Helleveien 30, N-5045 Bergen, Norway
Bertil Tungodden: Dept. of Economics, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, Postal: NHH, Department of Economics, Helleveien 30, N-5045 Bergen, Norway
Abstract: We report from a large-scale randomized controlled trial of women empowerment in Tanzania investigating how two different empowerment strategies, economic empowerment and reproductive health empowerment, shape the economic and fertility choices of young women when they transition into adulthood. The analysis builds on a rich data set (survey, experimental, and medical data) collected over more than five years. The economic empowerment reduces poverty, while teenage pregnancy increases with both economic and reproductive health empowerment. The increase in fertility comes from a positive income effect and by women entering earlier into a relationship. We also provide evidence of the importance of social norms and labor market flexibility in explaining the income and relationship effects on fertility. The findings provide new insights on the economics of fertility, and show the importance of a comprehensive approach to women empowerment.
Keywords: Women empowerment; Economic empowerment; Fertility; Poverty
Language: English
71 pages, October 27, 2022
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