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What’s Gender Got to do with Firm Productivity? Evidence from Firm Level Data in Asia

Author

Listed:
  • Steve Loris Gui-Diby

    (Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, ESCAP)

  • S. Selsah Pasali

    (African Center for Gender, United Nations ECA)

  • Diana Rodriguez-Wong

    (Social Development Division, ESCAP)

Abstract

This paper attempts to shed some light on the relationship between gender, financial constraints and productivity. It uses firm-level data from 23 Asian countries, and models with correction of selection biases. On the basis of an objective measure of financial constraint, this paper finds that the provision of adequate funds by financial institutions is important for productivity but gender is not a significant explanatory factor of productivity and female-owned enterprises are not necessarily more credit-constrained than male-owned enterprises. It is concluded that the impact of gender on productivity is not direct but mostly indirect through key drivers of productivity. The paper thus stresses the need, for governments, to address challenges related to sectoral segregation, gender-based discrimination, uneven time spent on non-productive activities, and transition from informal sector to formal sector as they are related to key drivers of productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Steve Loris Gui-Diby & S. Selsah Pasali & Diana Rodriguez-Wong, 2017. "What’s Gender Got to do with Firm Productivity? Evidence from Firm Level Data in Asia," MPDD Working Paper Series WP/17/01, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
    • Handle: RePEc:unt:wpmpdd:wp/17/01
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Albert Makochekanwa & Mamello Amelia Nchake, 2019. "Do Female Managers Affect Productivity? Evidence from Zimbabwean Manufacturing Firms," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 31(3), pages 364-379, September.
    2. Islam, Asif M. & Amin, Mohammad, 2023. "The gender labor productivity gap across informal firms," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    3. Silvia Muzi & Filip Jolevski & Kohei Ueda & Domenico Viganola, 2023. "Productivity and firm exit during the COVID-19 crisis: cross-country evidence," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1719-1760, April.
    4. Jesica Torres & Franklin Maduko & Isis Gaddis & Leonardo Iacovone & Kathleen Beegle, 2023. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Women-Led Businesses," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 38(1), pages 36-72.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    firm performance; gender equality; women’s economic empowerment; productivity; entrepreneurship; financial constraints; fixed effects estimator;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship

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