Informality and Gender Gaps Going Hand in Hand

Author/Editor:

Vivian Malta ; Lisa L Kolovich ; Angelica Martinez ; Marina Mendes Tavares

Publication Date:

May 23, 2019

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary:

In sub-Saharan Africa women work relatively more in the informal sector than men. Many factors could explain this difference, including women’s lower education levels, legal barriers, social norms and demographic characteristics. Cross-country comparisons indicate strong associations between gender gaps and higher female informality. This paper uses microdata from Senegal to assess the probability of a worker being informal, and our main findings are: (i) in urban areas, being a woman increases this probability by 8.5 percent; (ii) education is usually more relevant for women; (iii) having kids reduces men’s probability of being informal but increases women’s.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2019/112

Subject:

English

Publication Date:

May 23, 2019

ISBN/ISSN:

9781498314718/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA2019112

Pages:

34

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