This thesis explores welfare outcomes, primarily focusing on the well-being of women and children. In the first chapter, titled "A Touch of Violence - Welfare Outcomes under Bride Exchange and Child Brides," I delve into the effects of marital customs on household welfare. The second chapter, "Hot Flashes: Theory and Empirics of Optimal Menopause," delves into the evolutionary underpinnings of menopause in human beings. Lastly, the third chapter, "On the Complementarity of Pollution and Population Management under Economic Growth," delves into the ramifications of population control measures and market-driven environmental policies on economic growth and overall development.