A Study of Societal Progression on Women’s Economic Independence in India

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between women's economic independence and societal progression using various indicators such as, currently married women who usually participate in household decisions, women who worked in the last 12 months, women owning a house and/or land (alone or jointly with others), women with a bank account as indicators of women economic independence and for socio-economic parameters the study has considered women who are literate, state-wise maternal mortality ratio, sex ratio at birth for children born in the last five years. Data was extracted from India for the years 2016 and 2021 using the National Family Health Survey's (NFHS) reports. Extraction of data was carried out using the National Family Health Survey's (NFHS) reports and Handbook of Statistics on Indian States. The multiple linear regression model is included for each year to examine and assess the relationship between response and explanatory factors for both years. The study indicated that different causes have varying effects on markers of societal advancement. All three dependent variables of women's economic independence are negatively impacted by factors like women's decision-making ability, whereas they are positively impacted by factors like women having bank accounts and home ownership.