New research by Prof. Bilge Erten has been published in the August 2026 issue of the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. The article, “Female Leaders and Intrahousehold Dynamics: Evidence from State Elections in India,” was coauthored with S. Anukriti and Priya Mukherjee.
The study examines how women’s political representation affects the well-being of female constituents. Using evidence from state elections in India, the authors find that increased representation by women leads to greater provision of reproductive health services in rural areas, increased adoption of modern contraception, and longer birth spacing. The paper also documents an increase in intimate partner violence among some households and explores how changes in women’s reproductive decision-making affect household dynamics.
The article appears in Volume 18, Issue 3 of the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy.
