Intra-household decision making and long-term welfare effects: New empirical evidence.

This paper looks at household consumption and financial decisions made in a matrilineal society where women are by culture the financial household managers. This culture was strongly altered by the British in the mid-19th century. We use the distance to the former base as an instrument for women empowerment. Results show that households that follow the matrilineal Khasi tradition, spend more on education and nutrition, but are less likely to have savings left at the end of the month.