Publication: Gender and Poverty : A Life Cycle Approach to the Analysis of the Differences in Gender Outcomes
Date
2003-10
ISSN
Published
2003-10
Author(s)
Abstract
The authors study complex interactions
between gender and poverty in postwar Bosnia and
Herzegovina. The goal of their analysis is to uncover how a
spectrum of gender differentials at different parts of the
life cycle varies across income groups. Using the data from
the 2001 Bosnia and Herzegovina Living Standards Measurement
Study, the authors find strong gender-poverty interaction in
the patterns of labor force participation, gender gap in
earnings, individuals' school finances, and school
attendance. The main source of gender inequality seems to
come from differences in investments in girls' and
boys' educations that increase with declines in income
levels. Short-term income shocks could lead to long-term
increases in gender inequality in households with school age
children, unless there is ready access to credit markets.
The authors also find that the magnitude of the impact of
economic development on gender differences in Bosnia will
depend on where the growth is concentrated. If the poor
capture at least some benefits of economic growth, the
gender differences in household investment in human capital
of their children will decline. If, on the other hand,
growth is concentrated among the richest, then important
gender disparities could remain pervasive.
Citation
“Lokshin, Michael; Mroz, Thomas A.. 2003. Gender and Poverty : A Life Cycle Approach to the Analysis of the Differences in Gender Outcomes. Policy Research Working Paper;No. 3153. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/18052 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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