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Rethinking family planning policies in the developing world: evidence from sterilizations in India

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  • Maëlys De La Rupelle
  • Christelle Dumas

    (Université de Cergy-Pontoise, THEMA)

Abstract

In India, as in many developing countries, female sterilization is the main contraceptive method: 37% of women above 25 are sterilized. While no economic study provides guidance on how to implement family planning in a poor country, we analyze the consequences of sterilization for maternal health, as a hidden cost of fertility control. We instrument sterilization by interacting the first-born gender with an exogenous driver of past child mortality. We show that sterilization strongly deteriorates reproductive tract health and do not find any positive e ect on nutrition. Women from lower socio-economic background and scheduled castes su er more from the policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Maëlys De La Rupelle & Christelle Dumas, 2020. "Rethinking family planning policies in the developing world: evidence from sterilizations in India," Thema Working Papers 2020-08, THEMA (Théorie Economique, Modélisation et Applications), CY Cergy-Paris University, ESSEC and CNRS.
    • Handle: RePEc:ema:worpap:2020-08
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior

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