George Psacharopoulos
Published: 1992
Total Pages: 510
Get eBook
Women's role in economic development can be examined from many different perspectives, including the feminist, anthropological, sociological, economic and legislative. This study employs an economic perspective and focuses on how women behave and are treated in the work force in a number of Latin American economies. It specifically considers the determinants of women's labor force participation and male-to-female earnings differentials. Understanding the reasons for low labor market participation rates among women, or high wage discrimination against women, can lead to policies that will improve the efficiency and equity with which human resources are utilized in a particular country. This study uses household survey data to analyze labor force participation rates and wages earned by men and women in similar positions, paying special attention to the role of education earned by men and women in similar positions, paying special attention to the role of education as a factor influencing women's decision to work. The results show that, overall, the more years of schooling a woman has, the more likely she is to participate in the labor force. In addition, more educated women earn significantly more than less educated women. The book also attempts analyses of the common factors which determine salaries paid to men and women in an effort to identify what part of the male/female earnings differential can be attributed to different human capital endowments between the sexes, and what part is due to unexplained factors such as discrimination. Differences in human capital endowments explain only a small proportion of the wage differential in most of the country studies.
