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How COVID-19 pandemic worsens the economic situation of women in South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Margaret Chitiga

    (University of Pretoria [South Africa])

  • Martin Henseler

    (EDEHN - Equipe d'Economie Le Havre Normandie - ULH - Université Le Havre Normandie - NU - Normandie Université, Thünen Institute of Rural Studies)

  • Ramos E Mabugu
  • Hélène Maisonnave

    (EDEHN - Equipe d'Economie Le Havre Normandie - ULH - Université Le Havre Normandie - NU - Normandie Université)

Abstract

To contribute towards addressing the problem of relatively few general equilibrium studies focusing on gender impacts of disease pandemics, this paper uses a gendered Computable General Equilibrium model linked to a microsimulation model to study the short run economic effects of COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. A mild and severe scenario is run to represent the pandemic. Findings suggest that while COVID-19 leads to negative economic effects irrespective of scenario, female-headed households bear a disproportionately higher burden of the brunt. Because women tend to be more concentrated in employment in sectors that are hurt the most by COVID-19 response measures as well as that they predominate in unskilled categories, the simulation results show that women suffer disproportionately more from higher unemployment than their male counterparts though the differences are not as pronounced. The poverty outcomes show worsened vulnerability for female-headed households given that, even prior to the pandemic, poverty was already higher amongst women. These results are important in informing evidence-based responses by government to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Margaret Chitiga & Martin Henseler & Ramos E Mabugu & Hélène Maisonnave, 2020. "How COVID-19 pandemic worsens the economic situation of women in South Africa," Working Papers hal-02976171, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-02976171
    DOI: 10.1057/s41287-021-00441-w
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://normandie-univ.hal.science/hal-02976171
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    Cited by:

    1. Chitiga, Margaret & Henseler, Martin & Mabugu, Ramos & Maisonnave, Helene, 2021. "Modelling a Gender Inclusive Covid-19 Recovery for Zimbabwe," Conference papers 333301, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    2. Luis Enrique Escalante Ochoa & Hélène Maisonnave, 2021. "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women's welfare and domestic burdens in Bolivia," Working Papers hal-03118060, HAL.
    3. Lumengo Bonga-Bonga & Thabiso Molemohi & Frederich Kirsten, 2023. "The Role of Personal Characteristics in Shaping Gender-Biased Job Losses during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-14, April.
    4. Stetsiv, Iryna, 2024. "International experience in applying and developing the economic mechanism of public administration of food security," Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, vol. 10(1), March.
    5. Adekunle Adedeji & Tosin Tunrayo Olonisakin & Johanna Buchcik & Erhabor S. Idemudia, 2023. "Socioeconomic status and social capital as predictors of happiness: evidence and gender differences," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; Computable general equilibrium model; Gender; Poverty; South Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C68 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computable General Equilibrium Models
    • E60 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - General
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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