2008年-世界发展银行全球_The_Effect_of_Male_Migration_for_Work_on_Employment_Patterns_of_Females_in_Nepal_34页_258kb

Summary of "The Effect of Male Migration for Work on Employment Patterns of Females in Nepal"

Core Content

This policy research working paper examines the impact of male migration for work on the labor market behavior of females in Nepal. The study uses data from the 2004 Nepal household survey and applies the Instrumental Variable Full Information Maximum Likelihood (FIML) method to account for unobserved factors that may influence both migration and female labor participation decisions.

Main Findings

• Negative Impact on Female Employment: Male migration for work has a negative impact on the market work participation (MWP) of women left behind. Women from households with migrant members are less likely to participate in the labor market compared to those from non-migrant households.

• Heterogeneity in Impact: The effect of male migration on female labor market behavior is heterogeneous, varying by both observable and unobservable characteristics. For example, better-educated women are more likely to participate in the labor market, and the impact is more pronounced in higher expenditure households.

• Gender Dimension of Migration: The paper emphasizes the gendered nature of migration, highlighting how it affects the well-being of sending households. Female heads of households face increased burdens due to the absence of male labor, especially in tasks like plowing that are culturally restricted for women.

• Labor Market Segmentation: The Nepali labor market is segmented, with limited employment opportunities for women. Social norms and traditional family roles often discourage women from working outside the home, even when their husbands are absent.

• Economic and Social Role of Women: Women in sending households often take on the role of entrepreneurs, managing remittances and maintaining household economies. However, they are also more likely to be burdened with domestic responsibilities.

Key Information

• Migration Trends in Nepal: In 2004, approximately 32% of Nepali households had working migrants, and remittances accounted for 17% of GDP. Most migrants are male, aged 15–44, and are either husbands or sons of household members.

• Female Labor Participation: The formal sector accounts for less than 8% of female employment in Nepal. Over 70% of female workers are self-employed or engaged in low-wage informal sector activities. Female labor participation declines with age, and the lowest participation is observed among women with only one to seven years of schooling.

• Impact by Expenditure and Education: The gap in MWP between migrant and non-migrant households is more significant in higher expenditure households. Women with higher education levels are more likely to participate in the labor market, even in migrant households.

• Theoretical Model: The paper develops a two-period optimization model where the household's decision to send a male migrant and the wife's labor market participation are interdependent. The model accounts for the endogeneity of migration and labor participation decisions.

• Empirical Strategy: The study uses a switching probit model to estimate the treatment effect (impact of migration on female MWP). It also calculates the Average Treatment Effect (ATE) and Marginal Treatment Effect (MTE) to assess the effect of migration on different types of households.

Methodology and Data

• Data Source: The 2004 Nepal Living Standard Survey (NLSS-II), a nationally representative survey of households and communities. The study also uses data from the 1996 NLSS and the 2001 Nepal Census.

• Instrumental Variables: The authors use the proportion of internal and abroad migrants in a ward (from the 2001 Census) as instrumental variables. This helps control for endogeneity and selection bias in migration and labor participation decisions.

• Model Estimation: The Full Information Maximum Likelihood (FIML) method is used to estimate the effect of male migration on female MWP. The model assumes that the error terms are jointly normally distributed and that the migration decision is influenced by local networks and conditions.

Conclusion

• The study concludes that male migration has a significant negative impact on the labor market participation of women in Nepal, particularly in households where migration is common. This underscores the need for policies that take into account the gender dynamics of migration and its broader economic and social implications for sending households.

• The findings highlight the importance of understanding how migration affects not only economic outcomes but also the gender roles and responsibilities within households. Strategies for economic development in Nepal should consider these gender dimensions to ensure more inclusive and effective policies.