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Cultural norms, economic incentives and women's labour market behaviour: Empirical insights from Bangladesh

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  • Heinz, James
  • Kabeer, Naila
  • Mahmud, Simeen

Abstract

This paper sets out to explore a seeming puzzle in the context of Bangladesh. There is a considerable body of evidence from the country pointing to the positive impact of paid work on women’s position within family and community. Yet, according to official statistics, not only has women’s labour force participation risen very slowly over the years, but also a sizeable majority of women in the labour force are in unpaid family labour. We draw on an original survey of over 5000 women from eight different districts in Bangladesh to explore some of the factors that lead to women’s selection into the labour force, and into different categories of labour market activity, with a view to gaining a better understanding of the combination of cultural norms and economic considerations that explain these findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Heinz, James & Kabeer, Naila & Mahmud, Simeen, 2017. "Cultural norms, economic incentives and women's labour market behaviour: Empirical insights from Bangladesh," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 84316, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:84316
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/84316/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Najeeb,Fatima & Morales,Matias & Lopez-Acevedo,Gladys C., 2020. "Analyzing Female Employment Trends in South Asia," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9157, The World Bank.
    2. Sana Khalil, "undated". "Structures of constraint and women’s paid work in Pakistan," Review of Socio - Economic Perspectives 202186, Reviewsep.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • R14 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Land Use Patterns
    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General

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