Workfare and infant health: Evidence from India's public works program

• Published in: Journal of development economics Vol. 138; pp. 116 - 134
• Main Authors: Chari, A.V., Glick, Peter, Okeke, Edward, Srinivasan, Sinduja V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.05.2019
• ISSN: 0304-3878; 1872-6089
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2018.12.004

This paper examines the relationship between maternal employment and infant health in the context of a large workfare program that explicitly prioritizes female participation, India's National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Using multiple estimation strategies including a triple difference strategy that exploits a discontinuity in program eligibility at age 18, we find that the program had negative impacts on newborn infant survival, increasing newborn mortality among women who were eligible to participate in the program. •We study the effect of a workfare program in India on newborn survival.•Program exposure appears to have increased the rate of neonatal mortality.•Underlying these effects are indicative changes in fetal health, as well as changes in pregnancy care usage.