Now, Later, or Never? Evidence of the effect of weather shocks on female genital cutting in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

We provide the first causal evidence that economic conditions can affect a family’s decision to practice female genital cutting (FGC). In a conceptual framework that overlays economic intuition with an extensive review of ethnographic literature, we argue that economic shocks can affect the (perceived) costs and benefits of FGC in multiple ways, and the direction of their impact is unclear a priori. Empirically, on average, families in Sub-Saharan Africa delay or forgo FGC in response to droughts. Conservatively, a drought changes outcomes for 7 percent of girls at risk of undergoing FGC. Additionally, we show new stylized facts on the diversity of ethno-cultural traditions around practicing FGC and find suggestive evidence that these traditions affect the sign of the impact of droughts. We also find evidence of intra-household spillovers—droughts that are relevant for an older daughter also affect younger daughters. While norms are sticky, economic conditions can change those norms.