"Women and Trade along the Ancient Tea Horse Road : Evidence from the Reopening of the Nathu La Pass between India and China"

Abstract :
The Nathu La Pass, located between Tibet and the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal, has historically been the shortest land route for trade between China and India. Following its closure after the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the pass was reopened in 2006, allowing the resumption of trade and tourism. This paper examines the impact of trade liberalization on the welfare of women and children in predominantly agrarian and economically disadvantaged regions. Using a difference-in-differences approach, we assess trade liberalization exposure based on proximity to the Nathu La Pass. Our findings show that women living closer to the pass tended to marry at a later age, with the effect becoming more pronounced and statistically significant when the study window for marriage years expands from one year before and after 2006 to six years. However, these women also experienced a higher likelihood of domestic violence from their husbands, as well as exposure to a wider range of violent behaviors. By contrast, the mortality risk for children showed no significant changes associated with proximity to the border.