What does the latest research tell us about gender and development? This book summarizes the research results and policy implications of 27 studies on the subject. The findings in this book are grounded in empirical, quantitative evidence, but they are presented in nontechnical language. The book is organized according to the following broad themes: (1) power and resources within the household; (2) agriculture and natural resources; (3) health and nutrition; (4) social capital, legal institutions, and property rights; and (5) the impact of policies and interventions. Each thematic section begins with an overview of the key messages for that theme and of the specific contribution each study makes in that area. Summaries of each study follow, with suggestions for further reading. The book will be useful to teachers, undergraduate and graduate students, practitioners working on gender and development, and general readers interested in the subject.

"Household Decisions, Gender, and Development is aimed at a wide audience, including researchers, students, and practitioners. Even researchers already well acquainted with household bargaining studies will find this work interesting and thought-provoking.... This book provides a significant step forward. There is no doubt that among those committed to advancing the understanding of households to improve the well-being of all within the household, this volume is destined to become a classic."

--Agricultural Economics 33(2): 240 (Book reviews 2005)

"I highly recommend this volume to anyone with an interest in development, be they experts or beginning students, as it answers the question, 'Why do gender issues matter?' Because the volume covers a broad range of very important topics in the development field, it can easily serve as a text in a graduate course in gender and development. In addition, it will pique the interest of economists who are cognizant of 'the new household' economic models recently popularized in 'A Beautiful Mind.' Its focus on research results and policy implications also makes a valuable contribution to the development field."

--Christina H. Gladwin, Professor of Food and Resource Economics, University of Florida

"Gender is a central factor in household decisionmaking, which affects productivity, time allocation, and investment in developing countries, but there is considerable speculative rhetoric about gender roles. IFPRI has been a center for systematic studies of household decisionmaking. This volume, which synthesizes 27 such studies, is an important contribution that illuminates what we have learned and what we still do not know about the critical links among household decisions, gender, and development."

--Jere Behrman, W.R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Economics, and Director of the Population Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania

Agnes R. Quisumbing is a senior research fellow at IFPRI, where she conducts research on gender, poverty, and economic mobility.

The Table of Contents of this book is available for download in PDF format.

Table of Contents
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THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN 2007—Women and Children: The Double Dividend of Gender Equality. 2006. UNICEF

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