Working Women Worldwide. Age Effects of Aggregate Female Labor Force Participation in 117 Countries

• In Event: 490 - Regular Session. Development and Gender 2: Women and Work

Abstract

We study age effects of aggregate female labor force participation in 117 industrialized and developing countries. Using data on female labor force participation rates (FLPRs) from the ILO EAPEP dataset for women in eleven age groups, we run random-effects multilevel models to measure the impact of economic conditions, education, families, and gender ideologies on the FLPR of the age groups. We conclude that economic conditions, including the necessity and opportunity to work, strongly affect the timing of labor market entry and exit, but do little to explain the FLPRs of women between 25 and 55. FLPRs of that age group, we find, are better explained by looking at the effects of families and gender ideologies. In particular, we find evidence of substitution effects in maternity and care arrangements. While women of childbearing age are more likely to remain in the labor force when paid maternity leave schemes exist, we see an opposite effect for women under 25 and above 55. Similarly, while women between 25 and 59 have higher FLPRs at higher levels of enrollment in pre-primary education, women above and below that age are less likely to work. We find that a greater number of religious adherents in a country is associated with lower FLPRs of women between 20 and 59 years of age, but much less so with the participation of women who are younger or older. Finally, we find that political rights and representation are associated with higher FLPRs, particularly in low and lower middle income countries.

Authors

• Janna Besamusca, University of Amsterdam

• Kea Tijdens, University of Amsterdam

• Maarten Keune, University of Amsterdam

• Stephanie Steinmetz, University of Amsterdam