Quantifying The Invisible Economic Loss : An Empirical Econometric Analysis of Socio-Cultural Barriers to Female Labor Force Underutilization in Western Odisha

Quantifying the micro-foundations of gendered labour inefficiencies is critical for unlocking sub-national development and optimizing regional female human capital allocation. This study investigates the "Invisible Economic Loss" arising from socio-cultural bottlenecks that relegate highly literate women to unpaid domestic labour within the Bijepur Block of Bargarh District in Western Odisha. Utilizing primary field survey data and an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) multiple linear regression framework, the study model about the structural tension between institutionalized barriers and mitigating assets. The econometric diagnostics yield exceptional explanatory power (R2 = 0.950, F = 446.7), providing definitive empirical grounds to reject the null hypothesis. The estimation reveals that family restrictions (𝛽1 = 30.85, p < 0.001$) and rigid patriarchal norms (𝛽2 = 14.85, p < 0.001) operate as the dominant drivers of macroeconomic leakage, while educational attainment and domestic autonomy serve as vital insulating factors. Reclaiming this misallocated capital requires synchronized regional infrastructure and community-led socio-cultural modernization.