Intra-household impacts of climate hazards in coastal communities: A cross-country perspective

Abstract

This study is motivated by the increasing call for more gender-equitable participation and decision making in climate change adaptation. The study, therefore, revolves around the research question: Does equity in adaptation decision making and involvement between the husband and wife increase the welfare and resilience of the household? In the course of finding the answer to this question, the study also delved into the following questions: (1) What factors promote equitable adaptation decision making between the wife and husband? (2) What factors affect the labor/time allocation of husband and wife to adaptation activities?, (3) What is the average treatment effect (ATE) of equitable decision making on consumption expenditure (welfare) of the household?, and (4) Does equitable involvement and decision making in adaptation reduce the household’s vulnerability to expected poverty (VEP) or increase their resilience? This study covers three Southeast Asian countries identified to be vulnerable to climate change, namely, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. It attempts to study systematically the intra-household and gender-related implications and issues of climate-related shocks or hazards.