Growth, structural transformation and female time-use in rural India: 1998–2019
- The Indian Journal of Labour Economics
- 68(4), Oct-Dec, 2025: p.1343-1371
In the discourse on structural transformation and women’s work, it is crucial to examine both production and reproduction spheres. Women’s disproportionate burden in reproduction activities such as cooking, cleaning, and caregiving limits their participation in production sphere. Using Time-Use Survey (TUS) data from 1998 and 2019, we analyse the determinants of time rural women spend in non-System of National Accounts (SNA) activities during a period of high economic growth and structural change in India. The pooled cross-section regression reveals three key findings. Firstly, marital status significantly impacts women’s time in non-SNA activities, with married women spending more time than unmarried women, showing a “marriage penalty”. Secondly, women with primary or secondary education spend more time in non-SNA tasks than those without education. Thirdly, women employed in agriculture or non-agriculture sectors spend less time in these activities. These factors influence men’s non-SNA time as well, though to a lesser extent.-Reproduced