Informality and Gender Gaps Going Hand in Hand

IMF Working Papers, May 23, 2019

Source details

Authors: Vivian Malta, Lisa L Kolovich, Angelica Martinez, Marina Mendes Tavares
Published: May 23, 2019
Series: IMF Working Papers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781498314718.001

Publication type: IMF Working Papers
Authors: Vivian Malta, Lisa L Kolovich, Angelica Martinez, Marina Mendes Tavares
Date: May 23, 2019
Core observation: In sub-Saharan Africa women work relatively more in the informal sector than men.
Hypothesized explanatory factors reported: women’s lower education levels, legal barriers, social norms, and demographic characteristics.
Cross-country evidence: Cross-country comparisons indicate strong associations between gender gaps and higher female informality.

In urban areas, being a woman increases the probability of a worker being informal by 8.5 percent.
Education is usually more relevant for women in affecting informality outcomes.
Having kids reduces men’s probability of being informal but increases women’s probability of being informal.

Empirical approach: Uses microdata from Senegal to assess the probability of a worker being informal.
Regional focus: sub-Saharan Africa with a detailed case study on Senegal.

Subject: Education, Gender, Gender inequality, Informal employment, Labor, Women
Keywords: account worker, family worker, Gender Gaps, Gender inequality, informal economy, Informal employment, informal worker, labor force, paid worker, Senegal, Senegalese worker, sub-Saharan Africa, sub-Saharan Africa country, Women, working man, working woman, WP