The estimation of models of activity choice in LDCs (Less Developed Countries) is complicated by specific features of labour markets. In particular, entry into activity sectors is often restricted and worked hours are rationed. Moreover, in the informal sector workers may obtain their work rewards directly through technology with decreasing returns to labour. In this situation, complex structural modelling is often reputed infeasible. In this paper, we show that this statement is exaggerated and that it is possible to simultaneously estimate preferences, informal technology and sector entry costs. We estimate a structural non-separable model of activity choice and labour supply of female workers for formal, informal and inactivity sectors in the capital city of Cameroon. Our results provide evidence for the concavity in hours of the earnings function in the informal sector. We also estimate significant effects for several explanatory variables of the preferences and the earnings function. This allows us to contrast the labour supply elasticities for different sectors in a structural framework. However, estimation using a small sample is difficult and requires strong restrictions. In particular, there exists a trade-off between incorporating many explanatory variables in the model, and accounting for the non-linearity and the consistency of the structural explanation. These difficulties raise questions about the interpretation of simple models that are not simultaneously based on preferences, technology and entry costs.
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Paper provided by Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas, S.A. (Ivie) in its series Working Papers. Serie AD with number
2003-39.
Find related papers by JEL classification: J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand O17 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
References listed on IDEAS Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
Killingsworth, Mark R. & Heckman, James J., 1987.
"Female labor supply: A survey,"
Handbook of Labor Economics,
in: O. Ashenfelter & R. Layard (ed.), Handbook of Labor Economics, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 2, pages 103-204
Elsevier.
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