Western Balkans: Increasing Women's Role in the Economy

September 1, 2017

Preview Citation

Format: Chicago

Ruben V Atoyan, and Jesmin Rahman. Western Balkans: Increasing Women's Role in the Economy, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2017) accessed November 21, 2024

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

The Western Balkan countries have some of the lowest female labor force participation and employment rates across Europe. Almost two-thirds of working age women in the region are either inactive or unemployed: a huge bite into human capital for a region that endures high emigration and faces declining working age population. The paper uses both macro- and micro-level data to explore what explains low participation and employment rates among women in the region. Our findings show that improving educational attainment, having a more balanced family leave policy, and reducing tax wedge help improve participation of women in the labor force. However, these measures are not enough to notably improve employability of women, which require stronger growth supported by robust institutions.

Subject: Employment, Gender, Gender diversity, Labor, Labor force, Labor force participation, Women

Keywords: Emigration, Employment, Europe, Female employment, Gender diversity, Gender gaps, Labor force, Labor force data, Labor force participation, Labor force survey, Labor market, Labor markets, Tax wedge, WB country, Women, WP

Publication Details

Pages:

28
Volume:

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DOI:

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Issue:

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Series:

Working Paper No. 2017/194
Stock No:

WPIEA2017194
ISBN:

9781484315569
ISSN:

1018-5941

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