The impact of infrastructure investments on national economic growth, structural transformation and the welfare of individuals is well established in the literature. Numerous studies have investigated the isolated effects of road expansion and electrification on local economic development and household outcomes. One fact about public infrastructure programs is that governments around the world usually invest in more than one large-scale infrastructure program around the same time. Moreover, the impact of infrastructure developments is not uniformly experienced by all individuals. For instance, infrastructure programs encompassing road development and electrification may accrue greater benefits to women. In this study, we focus on understanding the causal effects of these two major programs on various dimensions of women’s empowerment, including women employment, decision making, domestic violence, asset ownership, and access to healthcare. Further, we attempt in understanding the channels through which the impact disseminates. By exploring these outcomes, this project aims to shed light on the gendered effects of complementary infrastructure programs.
To study this issue, the researchers combine administrative and survey datasets. First, they assemble administrative dataset from Ethiopian Road Authority and Ethiopian Electric Power to construct information on road network expansions, road conditions, as well as the location, capacity, and commissioning time of each of the electric grid substations. To measure women’s empowerment and labour force participation, they use Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and the Ethiopian National Labour Force Survey.
Evidence from this project can be utilised to target bundled infrastructure investments in areas with higher proportions of disadvantaged women to improve their economic opportunities and empowerment. By understanding the specific aspects of electrification and road expansion that positively affect female empowerment, policymakers can focus their efforts on projects that directly benefit women. For example, expanding electricity access in rural areas or improving transportation networks to enhance women’s mobility and access to markets or providing training and financial support to women entrepreneurs, facilitating access to markets and resources, and promoting women’s participation in sectors benefiting from infrastructure development. The study’s outcomes can also serve as a valuable resource for other countries in Sub - Saharan Africa.
