Author: Mohammad Al-Masaeid
Al-Masaeid, Mohammad, 2025 Essays on the Impact of Economic Freedom, Climate Change, and Household Decision-Making on Women's Well-Being, Flinders University, College of Business, Government and Law
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This thesis examines the complex connections between and the impact of economic freedom, climate change, and household decision-making (HDM) on gender dynamics and women's well-being within development economics. Divided into three main studies the thesis examines the worldwide issues concerning countries from both macroeconomic and microeconomic perspectives.
The first study examines the empirical link between economic freedom and fertility rates using panel data from developed and developing nations. Our fixed effects instrumental variable (IV) analysis shows global evidence of a negative impact of economic freedom on fertility behaviour. The influence is particularly pronounced in industrialised and high-income nations than in developing countries. Additionally, our instrumental variable quantile regression analysis reveals a more substantial negative effect for countries with a higher fertility rate. Lastly, we show that the negative impact operates through multiple channels, including income level, women's unemployment, and their decision to receive tertiary education.
The second study examines the associations between climate change indicators and legal gender disparity for a global group of developed and developing nations. Our results show that temperature shocks have a pervasive detrimental influence on gender equality. We link deviations from average temperatures to decreases in gender equality rights. This set of influences is more prevalent in developing than developed ones. We argue that less advanced stages of economic development, more reliance on agriculture, higher maternal mortality, and lower levels of democracy are potential mechanisms through which climate change affects gender equality. Policies to improve women's rights and adapt to climate change may be necessary to prioritise and provide greater attention to these crucial intermediate channels.
The third study focuses on the relationship between women's participation in decision-making and emotional intimate partner violence (IPV) using cross-sectional data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) encompassing nearly one million women across 50 developing countries. Our analyses, including OLS, 2SLS, and Bivariate probit, reveal a significant negative impact of women's decision-making on emotional IPV, particularly pronounced in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that increased decision-making authority notably reduces specific forms of emotional abuse, such as humiliation, threats, and insults. The protective effect is strongest among women aged 30-34, with diminishing effects in older age groups. Furthermore, this impact is more substantial in wealthier households, women whose husbands have completed secondary education or higher, and those currently employed. Conversely, the protective effects are less significant in poorer households. Collaborative decision-making across various domains is crucial for reducing emotional violence between partners and fostering equality and mutual respect.
The aim of the thesis is to comprehend how the elements revealed in each of these three studies intersect and shape broader development outcomes.
Keywords: Development Economics, Economic Freedom, Climate Change, Household Decision-Making, Fertility, Gender Inquility, Intimate Partner Violence, Applied Microeconomics & Macroeconomics.
Subject: Economics thesis
Thesis type: Doctor of Philosophy
Completed: 2025
School: College of Business, Government and Law
Supervisor: Ilke Onur