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Democracy and Female Labor Force Participation: An Empirical Examination

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  • Ghazal Bayanpourtehrani
  • Kevin Sylwester

Abstract

This paper empirically examines associations between female labor force participation (FLFP) and democracy. Using a cross-country, time series (1980–2005) data set, we find evidence that FLFP is lower in democracies. One possible explanation is that dictators promote FLFP above what traditional norms would dictate and so a greater freedom to follow custom lowers FLFP. However, we also find that the ratio of FLFP to male labor force participation (MLFP) is similar under both types of regimes and that MLFP is also lower in democracies. This outcome casts doubt on the aforementioned explanation. Instead, one possibility is that both men and women voluntarily withdraw from the labor force with greater freedoms. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Ghazal Bayanpourtehrani & Kevin Sylwester, 2013. "Democracy and Female Labor Force Participation: An Empirical Examination," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 112(3), pages 749-762, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:112:y:2013:i:3:p:749-762
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-012-0080-2
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    2. SMabrooka Altaf, 2019. "Women Labor Force Participation and Governance in Developing Economies: A Panel Analysis," iRASD Journal of Economics, International Research Alliance for Sustainable Development (iRASD), vol. 1(2), pages 89-102, December.
    3. Greulich,Angela & Dasre,Aurélien & Inan,Ceren, 2015. "Fertility transition in Turkey?who is most at risk of deciding against child arrival ?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7310, The World Bank.
    4. Ewa Lechman, 2014. "Female labor force participation and economic growth– re-examination of U-shaped curve," GUT FME Working Paper Series A 21, Faculty of Management and Economics, Gdansk University of Technology.
    5. Angela Greulich & Aurélien Dasre & Ceren Inan, 2015. "Fertility Transition in Turkey Who Is Most at Risk of Deciding against Child Arrival?," Working Papers hal-01298857, HAL.
    6. Christina Sanchita Shah & Supunmali Ahangama, 2023. "A Cross-Country Examination of Internet Penetration and the Economic Participation of Women: The Influence of Social Capital and Gender Equality," IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, , vol. 12(2), pages 182-196, July.

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