Conflict, Migration, and Women Empowerment in Nepal

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K01601
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 07040:Economic policy-related
• Research Institution: National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies
• Principal Investigator: WIE Dainn 政策研究大学院大学, 政策研究科, 准教授 (50600649)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: Women’s empowerment / male outmigration / polygamy

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The project provided the first empirical evidence of how male outmigration affects women left behind in the context of Nepal, where women often have a lot less bargaining power. We used rainfall as an instrumental variable to address endogeneity in the male outmigration. We showed that married women in households with male outmigrants in Nepal are less likely to be in polygamous relationships and more likely to have the final say on their health issues. However, these women are less likely to have the freedom to visit their family or relatives, probably due to increased cohabitation with their parents-in-law.
We published empirical findings as a GRIPS Discussion Papers Series. In spite of the pandemic, we also presented the working paper at several conferences and workshops to get feedbacks from policy makers and scholars in the relevant areas. These new findings will contribute to the literature and provide a good understanding and policy making for migrant-sending economies.

Free Research Field

Development economics, migration study

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

The project provided the first empirical evidence of how male outmigration affects women left behind in the context of Nepal, where women often have a lot less bargaining power. These new findings will contribute to the academic literature as well as policy designs in migrant-sending economies.