"Can Technology Empower? The Impact of Technology Access On Women's Dec" by Manali Joshi

Graduation Year

2021

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Economics

Second Department

Politics and International Relations

Reader 1

Nayana Bose

Reader 2

Nancy Neiman

Rights Information

© 2020 Manali Joshi

Abstract

Technology access has the power to transform women’s empowerment and increase economic development across the world. This thesis analyzes the impact of state-level technology access on women’s empowerment in India. I assess whether increased state technology levels, measured by mobile phone access, increase urban women’s education levels, household income levels and women’s decision-making power. My data is sourced from two rounds of the Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS) conducted in 2004-05 and 2011-12 as well as The Telecom Statistics of India, that measures telecom subscriber rates in each state. I use a linear regression model to measure education and income levels and a probit regression model to assess women’s decision-making power, measured through their purchase power, if they have a bank account, and if their name is on home ownership or rental papers. This model controls for women’s age, caste, religion, and household size, and my results show that state-level technology access has a limited impact on women’s empowerment. Technology access has the largest positive impact on women having a bank account. These findings are essential to better understand how generalized and universal technology access do not affect women significantly, and that targeted, gender-based technology provisions should be employed instead.

This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.

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