A1 Journal article (refereed)
Do gender wage differences within households influence women's empowerment and welfare? : Evidence from Ghana (2021)

Danquah, M., Iddrisu, A. M., Boakye, E. O., & Owusu, S. (2021). Do gender wage differences within households influence women's empowerment and welfare? : Evidence from Ghana. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 188, 916-932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2021.06.014

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Danquah, Michael; Iddrisu, Abdul Malik; Boakye, Ernest Owusu; Owusu, Solomon

Journal or series: Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization

ISSN: 0167-2681

eISSN: 1879-1751

Publication year: 2021

Volume: 188

Pages range: 916-932

Publisher: Elsevier

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2021.06.014

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/78253

Abstract

Using household data from the latest wave of the Ghana Living Standards Survey, this paper utilizes machine learning techniques – IV LASSO – that allows for the treatment of unconfoundedness in the selection of observables and unobservables to examine the structural effect of gender wage differences within households on women's empowerment and welfare in Ghana. The structural parameters of the IV LASSO estimations show that a reduction in household gender wage gap significantly enhances women's empowerment. Also, a decline in household gender wage gap results meaningfully in improving household and women's welfare. Particularly, the increasing effect on women's welfare resulting from decreases in household gender wage differences is much higher than for the household welfare. The findings showcase the need to vigorously adopt policies that both increase the quantity and quality of jobs for women and address gender barriers that inhibit women from accessing these jobs opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: households (organisations); wage level; wage differentials; gender; equality (values); woman's status; empowerment; well-being

Free keywords: household gender wage differences; women's empowerment; welfare; IV LASSO; Ghana

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 2