Can Technology Empower? The Impact of Technology Access On Women\u27s Decision-Making Power in India

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