Joint Titling in Rural Peru: Impact on Women's Participation in Household Decision-Making

Peru has implemented joint property rights between spouses and cohabitants on 57% of 1.5 million formalized agricultural plots. Bargaining theory indicates such redistribution of assets should empower women. This project measures influence on decision-making in 1,280 rural households, interviewing man and woman separately. A historical coincidence during the land reform of the 1960-70s made only some communities eligible for plot titling. The process was exogenous and independent of both household and community characteristics. The significantly positive impact on female empowerment in simple mean comparison and econometric models including pre-titling historic variables is hence unbiased. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.