标题： 谁受益最多？ 贝宁免费剖腹产政策的直接和间接影响 显示英文标题

标题： Who benefits the most? Direct and indirect effects of a free cesarean section policy in Benin

摘要： 本文评估了贝宁免费剖腹产政策对女性及其儿童的因果影响。我使用了西非国家的人口与健康调查（DHS）的大样本，并分析了贝宁女性免除剖腹产费用如何直接影响产妇和婴儿死亡率、家庭规模决策以及劳动力市场参与。我采用差异中的差异方法，发现拥有免费剖腹产政策显著减少了死产数量和婴儿死亡率，减少0.0855（下降18.79个百分点）。其次，对于幸存的儿童，我发现获得免费剖腹产增加了产妇死亡的可能性，增加0.00465（增加5.21个百分点）。该政策在降低婴儿死亡率和挽救新生儿方面有效。然而，它损害了母亲的健康，导致第一次生育后的生育率下降以及生育后的产妇劳动力供给减少。 显示英文摘要

摘要： This paper evaluates the causal effect of the access to Benin's free cesarean section policy on females and their children. I use a large sample of Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for West African countries and analyze how the exemption of the cesarean section user fees for females in Benin directly impacts maternal and infant mortality, family size decisions, and labor market participation. I use a Difference in Differences approach and find that having access to the free cesarean section policy significantly reduces the number of stillbirths and infant mortality by 0.0855 (a 18.79 percentage change). Second, for the surviving children, I find that access to the free cesarean section increases the likelihood of maternal mortality by 0.00465 (a 5.21 percentage change). The policy is effective at reducing infant mortality and saving the newborn. However, it harms the mother's health which translates to lower fertility after the first birth and decreased maternal labor supply post-birth.