Women's Work and Economic Development

Kristin Mammen and Christina Paxson

Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2000, vol. 14, issue 4, 141-164

Abstract: Using a cross-country dataset and microdata from India and Thailand, we examine how women's work status changes with economic development. Several clear patterns emerge: women's labor force participation first declines and then rises with development; women move from work in family enterprises to work as paid employees; fertility declines; and gender gaps in education narrow. Women's education levels, and those of their spouses, appear to be important determinants of women's labor market activities. Broad welfare indicators, such as mortality rates and education levels, indicate that women's well-being improves on average with development, both in absolute terms and relative to men.

JEL-codes: J16 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2000
Note: DOI: 10.1257/jep.14.4.141
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (167)

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