Surviving Loss: Coping Strategies among Widow Households in Thai Rural Areas

This study investigates the impact of the death of the primary earner of the household on the labor supply decision of the remaining household member in rural areas, in contrast to literature which often focus on more developed societies with a complete public insurance coverage. We found widow households could maintain the same level of consumption with only a temporary decline in saving. They achieved this by taking over the household business and receiving support from children and other relatives who moved in to assist, with the responsibility fell on daughters rather than sons. Widows also experienced a rise in gift income in the year of her husband's death, but there was no evidence that this support continued in the subsequent years. Public transfer also decreased, suggesting widows mainly relied on family members after the death of her husband.