IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/sajeco/v88y2020i3p227-241.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Do Foreign Firms Transfer Gender Norms in the Labour Market? Evidence from Sub‐Saharan Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Rezart Hoxhaj
  • Florian Miti

Abstract

Closing the gender gaps in economic opportunities is crucial for boosting economic growth and the empowerment of women. In this paper, we study how foreign firms contribute in reducing gender disparities in the labour market by transferring the gender norms of their country of origin to the affiliates in the host countries. We use cross sectional data on foreign firms located in 19 Sub Saharan Africa countries in 2010 by UNIDO. We find that firms coming from more gender equal countries employ more female workers in their affiliates. This effect is more relevant for the highly skilled female workers.

Suggested Citation

  • Rezart Hoxhaj & Florian Miti, 2020. "Do Foreign Firms Transfer Gender Norms in the Labour Market? Evidence from Sub‐Saharan Africa," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 88(3), pages 227-241, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:sajeco:v:88:y:2020:i:3:p:227-241
    DOI: 10.1111/saje.12256
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/saje.12256
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/saje.12256?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nordås, Hildegunn Kyvik, 2004. "Is trade liberalization a window of opportunity for women?," WTO Staff Working Papers ERSD-2003-03, World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic Research and Statistics Division.
    2. Tang, Heiwai & Zhang, Yifan, 2021. "Do multinationals transfer culture? Evidence on female employment in China," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    3. Ozler, Sule, 2000. "Export Orientation and Female Share of Employment: Evidence from Turkey," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 28(7), pages 1239-1248, July.
    4. Alberto Alesina & Paola Giuliano & Nathan Nunn, 2013. "On the Origins of Gender Roles: Women and the Plough," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 128(2), pages 469-530.
    5. Kucera, David & Tejani, Sheba, 2014. "Feminization, Defeminization, and Structural Change in Manufacturing," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 569-582.
    6. Rhys Jenkins, 2004. "Why has employment not grown more quickly in Vietnam?," Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(2), pages 191-208.
    7. KODAMA Naomi & Beata S. JAVORCIK & ABE Yukiko, 2016. "Transplanting Corporate Culture across International Borders: FDI and female employment in Japan," Discussion papers 16015, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    8. Papke, Leslie E & Wooldridge, Jeffrey M, 1996. "Econometric Methods for Fractional Response Variables with an Application to 401(K) Plan Participation Rates," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 11(6), pages 619-632, Nov.-Dec..
    9. Chang‐Tai Hsieh & Erik Hurst & Charles I. Jones & Peter J. Klenow, 2019. "The Allocation of Talent and U.S. Economic Growth," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 87(5), pages 1439-1474, September.
    10. Juhn, Chinhui & Ujhelyi, Gergely & Villegas-Sanchez, Carolina, 2014. "Men, women, and machines: How trade impacts gender inequality," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 179-193.
    11. Sheba Tejani & William Milberg, 2016. "Global Defeminization? Industrial Upgrading and Manufacturing Employment in Developing Countries," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(2), pages 24-54, April.
    12. Nicola D. Coniglio & Rezart Hoxhaj, 2018. "Global interactions and the ‘twin’ gender gaps in employment and wages: evidence from Vietnam," RSCAS Working Papers 2018/18, European University Institute.
    13. Stephan Klasen & Dana Sch�ler, 2011. "Reforming the Gender-Related Development Index and the Gender Empowerment Measure: Implementing Some Specific Proposals," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(1), pages 1-30, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Victor Stolzenburg & Marianne Matthee & Caro Janse van Rensburg & Carli Bezuidenhout, . "Foreign direct investment and gender inequality: evidence from South Africa," UNCTAD Transnational Corporations Journal, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nicola D. Coniglio & Rezart Hoxhaj, 2018. "Global interactions and the ‘twin’ gender gaps in employment and wages: evidence from Vietnam," RSCAS Working Papers 2018/18, European University Institute.
    2. Jaerim Choi & Theresa M. Greaney, 2022. "Global Influences On Gender Inequality: Evidence From Female Employment In Korea," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 63(1), pages 291-328, February.
    3. Tang, Heiwai & Zhang, Yifan, 2021. "Do multinationals transfer culture? Evidence on female employment in China," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    4. Karol Fernández Delgado, . "Assessing the impact of foreign ownership on firm performance by size: evidence from firms in developed and developing countries," UNCTAD Transnational Corporations Journal, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    5. C. Austin Davis & Jennifer P. Poole, . "Can multinational firms promote gender equality? The role of labour mobility," UNCTAD Transnational Corporations Journal, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    6. Manuel Santos Silva & Stephan Klasen, 2021. "Gender inequality as a barrier to economic growth: a review of the theoretical literature," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 581-614, September.
    7. Nikulin, Dagmara & Wolszczak-Derlacz, Joanna, 2022. "GVC involvement and the gender wage gap: Micro-evidence on European countries," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 268-282.
    8. Erten, Bilge & Metzger, Martina, 2019. "The real exchange rate, structural change, and female labor force participation," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 296-312.
    9. Sheba Tejani & David Kucera, 2021. "Defeminization, Structural Transformation and Technological Upgrading in Manufacturing," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 52(3), pages 533-573, May.
    10. Victor Stolzenburg & Marianne Matthee & Caro Janse van Rensburg & Carli Bezuidenhout, . "Foreign direct investment and gender inequality: evidence from South Africa," UNCTAD Transnational Corporations Journal, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    11. Alessandra Bonfiglioli & Federica de Pace, 2021. "Export, Female Comparative Advantage and the Gender Wage Gap," Working Papers 925, Queen Mary University of London, School of Economics and Finance.
    12. Abdulla, Kanat & Serikbayeva, Balzhan, 2024. "Gender gaps in labor market outcomes in a resource-dependent country," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    13. Firat Demir & Saleh S. Tabrizy, 2022. "Gendered effects of sanctions on manufacturing employment: Evidence from Iran," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(4), pages 2040-2069, November.
    14. Chen, Yunsi & Hu, Dezhuang, 2023. "Why are exporters more gender-friendly? Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    15. Do, Quy-Toan & Levchenko, Andrei A. & Raddatz, Claudio, 2016. "Comparative advantage, international trade, and fertility," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 48-66.
    16. Cavapozzi, Danilo & Francesconi, Marco & Nicoletti, Cheti, 2024. "Dividing Housework between Partners: Individual Preferences and Social Norms," IZA Discussion Papers 17370, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    17. Greaney, Theresa M. & Tanaka, Ayumu, 2021. "Foreign Ownership, Exporting and Gender Wage Gaps: Evidence from Japanese Linked Employer-Employee Data," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    18. Ghani,Syed Ejaz & Grover,Arti & Kerr,Sari & Kerr,William Robert, 2016. "Will market competition trump gender discrimination in India ?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7814, The World Bank.
    19. Conover Emily & Khamis Melanie & Pearlman Sarah, 2021. "Gender Imbalances and Labor Market Outcomes: Evidence from Large-Scale Mexican Migration," IZA Journal of Development and Migration, Sciendo & Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 12(1), pages 1-22, January.
    20. Hafsa Qaiser & Hafeez ur Rehman & Noman Arshed, 2023. "Role of institutional quality on women's empowerment—A case of highly gender unequal Asian countries," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(1), pages 48-75, March.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:sajeco:v:88:y:2020:i:3:p:227-241. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/essaaea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.