Publication: Gender-Segmented Labor Markets and Trade Shocks
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2023-07-19
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2023-07-19
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Gender segmentation in labor markets shapes the local effects of international trade. This paper develops a theory that embeds trade in gender-segmented labor markets and shows that in this framework, foreign demand shocks may increase or decrease the female-to-male employment ratio. If a foreign demand shock from a relevant market happens in a female-intensive (male-intensive) sector, the model predicts that the female-to-male employment ratio should increase (decrease). The paper then uses plausibly exogenous variation in the exposure of Tunisian local labor markets to foreign demand shocks and shows that the empirical results are consistent with the theoretical prediction. In Tunisia, a country with a high degree of gender segmentation in the labor markets, foreign demand shocks have been relatively larger in male-intensive sectors. This induced a decrease in the female-to-male employment ratio, with households likely substituting female for male labor supply.
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“Góes, Carlos; Lopez-Acevedo, Gladys; Robertson, Raymond. 2023. Gender-Segmented Labor Markets and Trade Shocks. Policy Research Working Papers; 10518. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/40062 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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