Access to Credit, Education, and Women’s Say in the Household: Evidence from Bangladesh

A substantial literature on women’s say in the household focuses microcredit, but there is little evidence relative roles of credit and education. Using survey data from Bangladesh, we provide a comparative analysis effects education microcredit decision making power household. We implement two econometric approaches: bias adjusted OLS estimator Oster (2019) that extends Altonji et al. (2005) approach where selection observables used as guide to unobservables, doubly robust radius matching Lechner (2011). The suggests limited impact consistent with recent RCT based studies. In contrast, much more important for enhancing range decisions. There no significant interaction effect between credit. Evidence Gelbach decomposition outside employment an mediating mechanism, wealth assortative marriage are not important. remains strong even after controlling these factors, pointing importance other mechanisms such self-confidence better negotiation skills educated women.