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Bring a friend: Leveraging financial and peer support to improve women’s reproductive agency in India

Author

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  • Anukriti, S.
  • Herrera-Almanza, Catalina
  • Karra, Mahesh

Abstract

Women’s agency in the domain of family planning and reproductive health is a fundamental determinant of their well-being. We experimentally evaluate two approaches aimed at improving women’s reproductive agency in India. We offered treated women subsidized family planning services at a local clinic. Additionally, we enabled a subset of treated women to invite and incentivize others to visit the clinic with them. Although the subsidy encouraged women to seek company to the clinic and increased clinic visits, combining the subsidy with the ability to leverage peer support increased women’s contraceptive use, decreased their likelihood of pregnancy, and was more effective in strengthening reproductive agency and peer engagement. Women facing greater intrahousehold opposition to contraception appeared to benefit more from peer support.

Suggested Citation

  • Anukriti, S. & Herrera-Almanza, Catalina & Karra, Mahesh, 2026. "Bring a friend: Leveraging financial and peer support to improve women’s reproductive agency in India," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:180:y:2026:i:c:s0304387825002573
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2025.103706
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    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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