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Paper short abstract

This paper examines durability and diffusion of women's empowerment. Using panel data from India and a domain-based framework, we find that durability varies across empowerment domains. Further, we find a significant diffusion effect across all empowerment domains.

Paper long abstract

In this paper we empirically test the sustainability of women's empowerment using representative and rich individual-level panel data from India for the years 2004−2005 and 2011−2012. Sustainability is defined in terms of durability, that is, whether empowerment gains sustain over the long run, and diffusion, that is, whether empowerment has positive spillover effects. A domain-based framework is used to capture the multidimensional nature of empowerment. We find that durability varies across empowerment domains. Individual capabilities, asset endowment, and the opportunity structure within which women operate are significantly associated with durability of empowerment. Additionally, a significant diffusion effect of empowerment from empowered women to the other women in the household is observed across all domains. The diffusion effect is significant even when the respondents reside in a separate household but is connected to their empowered female kin through close family network.

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