Individual Choice or Policies? Drivers of Female Employment in Europe

IMF Working Papers, March 7, 2016

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Canonical URL: Individual Choice or Policies? Drivers of Female Employment in Europe

Authors: Lone Engbo Christiansen, Huidan Huidan Lin, Joana Pereira, Petia Topalova, Rima A Turk
Published: March 7, 2016
Series: IMF Working Papers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781513551364.001

Female labor force participation has increased markedly in many European countries during the past decades, but participation rates remain low in some economies and a significant gender gap persists in most countries.
Using micro-level data to control for factors that influence personal choice, the study re-examines the determinants of female employment in Europe.
The results highlight the importance of positive attitudes towards women working and individual characteristics such as years of education and number of children.
Even after controlling for individual factors, policies are also key drivers of female employment.

Attitudinal factors:
- Positive attitudes towards women working are important determinants of female employment.
Individual characteristics:
- Years of education is an important predictor of female employment.
- Number of children is an important predictor of female employment.
Policy effects:
- Policies remain key drivers of female employment even after accounting for attitudinal and individual factors.

Policies that influence the environment for women working (including those affecting childcare provision and family allowances, as implied by keywords) can materially affect female labor force participation.
Addressing attitudinal barriers and investing in factors that enhance individual capacity (for example, education) are complementary to policy interventions to raise female employment.

1. Extensive Margin: Europe—Women
- 1. Extensive Margin: Europe—Women (Markdown version)
- 1. Extensive Margin: Europe—Women (PDF)