Research

When sterilizations lower immunizations : the Emergency experience in India (1975-77) (Working paper) 

with Charlotte Pelras

Published in World Development

Abstract: In the 1970s in India, an aggressive family planning program resulted in more than eight million sterilizations in only a few months. Under the assumption that this extremely unpopular sterilization campaign may have shaped demand for health services, we study the effect of this event on children’s immunization and hospital births. To account for non-randomness in coercion intensity, we use a difference-in-difference empirical strategy, with mother and village fixed effects and unexpected timing of the policy. We show that an increase in district-wise sterilizations, compared to the previous period, led to a substantial decrease in the use of these services, especially vaccination. Further evidence supports a decline in trust rather than a change in health supply or valuation of children.

Patriarchy on the map: Women’s empowerment trajectories in Nepal’s changing social context(Working paper) 

with Clarice Manuel

Submitted

Abstract: Gender inequalities persist globally, and Nepal is no exception. However, over the past two decades, numerous legal reforms have expanded the rights of women. This paper examines the changing impact of patriarchal intensity on women’s empowerment proxies in this context. We develop a measure of patriarchy based on the demographic behavior of neighbors in 2001 and explore how its importance has changed in relation to women’s empowerment indicators (decision-making power, paid and non-agricultural employment) over two decades. Our findings indicate a growing heterogeneity in women’s empowerment over time, despite overarching positive trends. These results are consistent with a straightforward model suggesting that actual empowerment depends on the legal framework and a cost associated with seizing available opportunities, increasing with patriarchy. Furthermore, our results underscore the importance of employing a spatial measure that encompasses all neighbors to comprehend such dynamic patterns.

Are urban and rural dwellers so different? Administrative definitions and urban development dynamics in Nepal (Draft available upon request) 

with Olivia Aubriot and Tristan Bruslé

Abstract: In 2011, 17% of Nepal's population resided in urban areas; in 2021, it is 63%. The primary driver behind this significant increase is administrative restructuring, prompting a need for a more in-depth exploration of urbanization in Nepal. This study introduces an urban intensity index, motivated by the on-the-ground observations of a proto-urbanization process by geographers. The index considers population density, agricultural activities, and habitat characteristics to provide a nuanced understanding of the urbanization process. The relationships along this continuum often exhibit a monotonic pattern, offering a more accurate depiction of the urban population compared to dichotomous administrative classifications. In the last section of the paper, we leverage Nepal's unique context to investigate whether reclassifying areas from rural to urban can stimulate urban development. Our findings indicate that such reclassifications can indeed fuel population growth and local economic activity, contingent on specific conditions.

Work in progress

Prevalence and reporting of domestic violence: study of a 'one-door' system in Nepal (with Maëlle Stricot)

Other publications

Justine Briaux, Yves Martin-Prevel, Sophie Carles, Sonia Fortin, Yves Kameli, Laura Adubra, Andréa Renk et al. "Evaluation of an unconditional cash transfer program targeting children’s first-1,000–days linear growth in rural Togo: A cluster-randomized controlled trial." PLoS medicine 17, no. 11 (2020): e1003388. (link)

[Poster] Renk, Andréa, Cécile Bessou, Akiko Suwa-Eisenmann, Jérémie Gignoux, François Libois, and Niels Wielaard. "PERENA–Investigating the role of perennial crops in food security: the case of oil palm in Indonesia." ICOPE, 2018. (link)