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
