School feeding, maternal empowerment, and household consumption

Abstract

This paper examines the causal effects of a school feeding program on maternal empowerment and household consumption in rural China. Exploiting the staggered implementation of the Student Nutrition Improvement Program, we find that the program significantly reduces maternal time spent on housework, improves maternal labor market performance, and enhances maternal decision‐making power within nuclear households. The augmented bargaining power translates into shifts in household consumption toward female‐prioritized goods, including more nutritious foods, clothing, and housework‐related appliances. However, these positive effects on maternal empowerment are diminished in multigenerational families, where grandparents can assist with childcare responsibilities.