European Business Schools Librarian's Group
Department of Economics Working Papers,
Vienna University of Economics and Business, Department of Economics
No 390: Empowered Mothers, Empowered Generations: The Impact of Women’s Economic Rights
Esther Arenas-Arroyo () and Elisabeth Wurm ()
Additional contact information
Esther Arenas-Arroyo: Department of Economics, Vienna University of Economics and Business
Elisabeth Wurm: Department of Economics, Central European University.
Abstract: This paper examines the long-run effects of women’s economic rights on generations exposed to property and earnings acts during childhood. We find that childhood exposure to these reforms reduced the probability of marriage—particularly among women—and increased female labor force participation in adulthood. To explore potential mechanisms, we document several short-run effects among the adult generation contemporaneous to the reforms, including improved occupational standing, reduced fertility, lower child mortality, and increased schooling among children. Taken together, our findings suggest that expanding economic rights for women can shape outcomes across multiple generations, underscoring the enduring importance of legal and institutional reforms that promote women’s economic empowerment.
Keywords: Women’s economic rights, Intergenerational mobility, Long-run effects
JEL-codes: D13; J12; J16; N31 December 2025
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