When Boys Become Men: Economic Benefits of Male Adulthood in Female-Headed Households in Burundi

In many rural areas of developing countries, female-headed households face significant gender-based discrimination and stigma. This paper examines the benefits an adult male brings to these households simply by being male in a society with deep-rooted gender inequality. Using regression discontinuity design, we estimate the impact of the presence of an adult male in female-headed households in rural Burundi. We compare households with a young adult male—who enjoys the privileges of an adult man—with households with a teenage male just below the 18 years-old mark—who is not yet considered an adult. We find that the presence of an adult male is associated with higher income, asset value, and children’s years of education in female-headed households. The mechanisms appear to be increased participation in labor markets, farm production, and access to assets. Our paper studies how gender norms may constrain economic opportunities of female-headed households.