Research Paper IZA Discussion Papers 11590
Maternal mortality and women’s political participation
Authors
Publication date
Jun 2018
Summary
Raising women’s political participation leads to faster maternal mortality decline. We estimate that the introduction of quotas for women in parliament results in a 9 to 12% decline in maternal mortality. In terms of mechanisms, it also leads to an 8 to 11% increase in skilled birth attendance and a 6 to 11% increase in prenatal care utilization. We find reinforcing evidence from the period in which the United States experienced rapid declines in maternal mortality. The historical decline made feasible by the introduction of antibiotics was significantly greater in states that had longer exposure to women’s suffrage.
Subjects
Politics, Social Change, and Childbearing: Fertility
Links
ftp://repec.iza.org/RePEc/Discussionpaper/dp11590.pdf
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