WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN THE LABOR MARKET AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: EVIDENCE FROM ECCAS AND ECOWAS COUNTRIES

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between women’s participation in the labor market and economic development in ECCAS and ECOWAS over the period 2006–2015 using a dynamic panel data model. The analysis is conducted from two perspectives: first, the relationship is investigated for a sample of 24 countries, and second, it is re-examined separately for the two regional blocs (ECCAS and ECOWAS). OLS, fixed effects models, instrumental variable (IV) estimation, and the generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator developed by Arellano and Bond (1991) are employed to account for dynamic effects. The main results show a U-shaped relationship between female labor force participation and economic development across the full sample of 24 countries. The findings are relevant for policymakers in ECCAS and ECOWAS countries, as they highlight the need to implement effective policies that can increase female labor force participation and support economic growth.

Data:
Received: 9 Mar 2019
Revised: 4 May 2019
Accepted: 6 Jun 2019
Published: 20 Jun 2019