This paper tests for ex ante and ex post labor supply responses to weather
risk for rural Indian farm households. The analysis uses panel data on 2115
households spanning 13 states in rural India, merged with a 22-year series
of district-level rainfall data. Ex ante, households facing riskier distri
butions of rainfall are more likely to participate in the labor market. Ex
post, unexpectedly bad weather and low rainfall increase labor force partic
ipation. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.