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

18 Pages Posted: 24 Jul 2019 Last revised: 29 Jul 2019

See all articles by Rezart Hoxhaj

Rezart Hoxhaj

University Roma Tre

Florian Miti

University Ismail Qemali of Vlora

Date Written: July 22, 2019

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.

Keywords: Female Employment, Gender Norms, FDI, Sub-Saharan Africa

JEL Classification: F21, O55, J16

Suggested Citation

Hoxhaj, Rezart and Miti, Florian, Do Foreign Firms Transfer Gender Norms in the Labour Market? Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa (July 22, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3423884 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3423884

Rezart Hoxhaj (Contact Author)

University Roma Tre ( email )

Via Silvio d’Amico, 77
Rome, 00145
Italy

Florian Miti

University Ismail Qemali of Vlora ( email )

Lagja Panvarsia, Rruga Kosova
Vlore, 9400
Albania

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