Gender and Trade

Gender and Trade

1. Gendered Effects of Liberalisation

   • Macroeconomics
     • built on microfoundations
       • adequate - don't take account of gender difference
   • Microeconomics
     • even if women don't lose out in workplace; may do at home
       • men made redundant
         • women take up slack
         • take out frustrations - violence
   • Docile Workers
     • women chosen because
       • cheaper
         • why?
       • nimble fingers
       • less likely to form unions etc
     • is this accurate?
   • Increased foreign trade
     • increase in manufactured exports
       • women's role in agriculture
         • increase - take place of men
         • decrease - get own jobs in manufacturing
     • women benefit more from free trade
       • demand for unskilled labour
       • women uneducated
     • what is good gender outcome?
       • income; empowerment; health
       • women earn more; long hours; see family less; poor health
         • is that good for gender?

2. Export Processing Zones

   • EPZs
     • area of country with lower tariffs; regulations - aimed at attracting companies
   • Dominated by MNCs
     • haven of relatively high wages and superior working conditions?
     • isolated enclaves of exploitation?
       • modern sources of support absent
         • unions; regulations
       • traditional support cut off
         • family; culture

3. Evidence

   • Case Studies
     • Madagascar
       • Nicita (2008)
         • textile industry dominated by women
           • wealthier households better access to jobs
           • prosper for future growth unclear
         • strong economic growth until political unrest
       • Glick (2006)
         • women dominate textile industry
           • both genders less likely to do this work after have children
     • India
       • Menon (2009)
         • MNCs not giving jobs to women
           • men doing better
           • weak bargaining position
         • pressure from international competition
           • low wages
           • if regs increase move elsewhere
       • Chamarbagwala (2006)
         • skill wage gap grown
         • gender wage gap decreased for educated workers
           • manufactured = better for men
           • services benefit both
     • Bangladesh
       • Fontana (2000)
         • Social Accounting Matrix
           • estimate outcome from increased trade
           • e.g export demand doubles; female income increase by 62%; reduced leisure time
       • Kabeer (2004)
         • garment industry
           • mostly female migrants
         • strong social constraints to women's behaviour in rural areas
           • industry - less subjected to these
     • South Africa
       • Daniels (2008)
         • effect of change in tariffs on consumption
           • vary between classes
   • Cross Country Studies
     • Bussman (2009)
       • increase in women's share of employment in some sectors
         • only looks at 2 variables
           • could be just a correlation
     • Oostendorp (2009)
       • benefits to gender wage gap only in richer countries
     • Richards (2003)
       • economic globalisation usually associated with improved status of women
         • MNCs export good labour regs
           • ignore local discriminatory norms
   • Results
     • Cross country studies more ambiguous
       • sweeping statements hard to justify
     • Few = purely positive/negative effects on gender - mixture
     • Differ according to education; wealth; sector