IMF Working Papers Volume 2017 Issue 194: Western Balkans: Increasing Women's Role in the Economy (2017)

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Western Balkans: Increasing Women's Role in the Economy

Author:

Mr. Ruben V Atoyan

Mr. Ruben V Atoyan
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and

Jesmin Rahman

Jesmin Rahman
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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2324-3537

Series:: IMF Working Papers

Volume/Issue:: Volume 2017: Issue 194

Publication Date:: 01 Sep 2017

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781484315569.001

ISBN:: 9781484315569

ISSN:: 1018-5941

Pages:: 28

Keywords:: WP; labor market; Labor force participation; gender gaps; labor markets; female employment; emigration; tax wedge; labor force survey; WB country; labor force data; Women; Labor force; Employment; Gender diversity; Europe

Legal-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.

Series:: IMF Working Papers

Volume/Issue:: Volume 2017: Issue 194

Language:: English

Publication Date:: 01 Sep 2017

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781484315569.001

ISBN:: 9781484315569

ISSN:: 1018-5941

Pages:: 28

Keywords:: WP; labor market; Labor force participation; gender gaps; labor markets; female employment; emigration; tax wedge; labor force survey; WB country; labor force data; Women; Labor force; Employment; Gender diversity; Europe

Legal-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.

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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.

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IMF Working Papers

ISSN:: 1018-5941

Publisher:: International Monetary Fund

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