Do kids change the game? How parenthood reshapes intra-household decision-making : evidence from Jordan

This study examines how the number of children affects household decision-making, using repeated cross-sectional data from the Jordan Demographic and Health Survey (JDHS) covering the period from 1990 to 2023. We hypothesize that the number of living children in the house increases caregiving responsibilities for their mothers and limits their participation in joint household decisions. Using OLS, 2SLS and partially linear and partially linear IV double machine learning estimations, we find that while women’s autonomous decision-making may slightly rise with more children, joint decision-making on finances, household purchases, and family visits significantly declines. This indicates that having more children reduces maternal workforce participation and education, increases emotional violence and justifies wife-beating as a potential mechanism. Our findings suggest that policies promoting affordable childcare, paid paternity leave, and flexible work arrangements are crucial for enhancing women’s empowerment and fostering collaborative decision-making within families.