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Dowry Deaths:Response to Weather Variability in India

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  • Sheetal Sekhri
  • Adam Storeygard

Abstract

We examine the effect of rainfall shocks on dowry deaths using data from 583 Indian districts for 2002-2007. We find that a one standard deviation decline in annual rainfall from the local mean increases reported dowry deaths by 7.8 percent. Wet shocks have no apparent effect. We examine patterns of other crimes to investigate whether an increase in general unrest during economic downturns explains the results but do not find supportive evidence. Women's political representation in the national parliament has no apparent mitigating effect on dowry deaths.

Suggested Citation

  • Sheetal Sekhri & Adam Storeygard, 2014. "Dowry Deaths:Response to Weather Variability in India," Discussion Papers Series, Department of Economics, Tufts University 0787, Department of Economics, Tufts University.
    • Handle: RePEc:tuf:tuftec:0787
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    JEL classification:

    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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