This paper develops a framework for quantifying barriers to labor force participation and entrepreneurship faced by women in developing countries and then applies this framework to the Indian economy. It finds substantial barriers to female labor force participation and higher costs to expanding businesses for women entrepreneurs in India compared to male entrepreneurs, noting that women entrepreneurs' only comparative advantage lies in the hiring of female workers.
Blog » Aggregate Implications of Barriers to Female Entrepreneurship (2023)
Aggregate Implications of Barriers to Female Entrepreneurship (2023)
This paper develops a framework for quantifying barriers to labor force participation and entrepreneurship faced by women in developing countries and then applies this framework to the Indian economy. It finds substantial barriers to female labor force participation and higher costs to expanding businesses for women entrepreneurs in India compared to male entrepreneurs, noting that women entrepreneurs' only comparative advantage lies in the hiring of female workers.