Effects of Cultural Norms on Gender Inequality in Brazil

Abstract: This study analyzes the cultural effects on children and adolescents (CAs) demand for fetching water activities and their impacts on gender inequality in education in terms of CAs' school dropout probability (SDP). Adopting a probit specification, we found that, due to adverse weather events, school girls are less (more) likely to drop out of school in the matrilineal (patrilineal) kinship society than school boys. Additional years of schooling and improved health status negatively affect CAs' SDP and reduce the gender gap in education. These effects are statistically significant at conventional levels, either controlling for local and household-specific effects or affected versus unaffected areas by drought, suggesting that culture matters for gender outcomes.

Keywords: Kinship traditions; Gender gap in education; Economic development

JEL Classification Number: C35; I24; I25; O12