| dc.description.abstract | Purpose: This study examines how technology intensity in international trade
affects gender inequality in labor force participation and wage in emerging
economies.
Methodology: The study decomposes the export and import into four sectors as
High tech (HT), Medium tech (MT), low tech (LT), and primary products (PP)
based on technology intensity. It then examines the long-run and short-run
relationship using panel ARDL method and direction of casualty between the trade
of these sectors and gender inequality in labor market using vector error correction
model (VECM) based Granger causality test.
Findings: The analysis results suggest that export and import in any sectors
classified based on technology intensity such as high tech, low tech, medium-tech,
and PP reduces gender inequality in labor force participation and wage. The results
also suggest significant long-run bidirectional causality between TC and FLFPR
and LFP inequality except for very few cases. On the other hand, trade-in any sector
causes gender wage inequality in the short-run only, whereas, in the long run,
gender wage inequality results in trade in different sectors.
Limitations: The study has some limitations. Firstly, the unavailability of trade
data for several emerging countries makes the analysis a little bit weak. Secondly,
the female labor force participation data is not also totally structured. Thirdly, there
is a considerable lack of structured and consistent gender wage gap data that makes
the analysis questionable. Finally, the availability of consistent data in all aspects
will make the study more reliable and robust.
Practical Implication: This study will open a new window in the trade-gender
inequality research field and help formulate policies in this field to use trade as an
instrument to reduce gender inequality.
Originality: This study analyses trade and gender inequality in labor force
participation linkage from a different perspective. The study identifies the effects of
trade classified based on technology intensity on female labor force participation
and wage, which is a unique approach in this research field of trade-gender nexus | en_US |
