The Impact of Women’s Income on Household Nutrition

This study examines the association between women’s income and household nutrition using the India Human Development Survey (2005, 2011). Assuming that the household head and his/her spouse are the primary members who influence household nutrition, we explore the association between the primary woman’s income as a share of the total income of the primary couple, with household nutrition and diet diversity. The results show that the primary woman’s income share has a positive and significant association with household calorie intake especially with calories obtained from carbohydrates, but a significant negative association with calories from fats and no association with calories obtained from protein. Additionally, the positive association of the primary woman’s income share with household calorie intake is weaker in the presence of other educated women that have specific hierarchical relationship with the primary woman. The study thus underscores the importance of women’s relative bargaining power in improving household nutrition.