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Is Pro-Labor Law Pro-Women? Evidence from India

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  • Josef Montag

    (Faculty of Business and Economics, Mendel University in Brno)

Abstract

This paper analyses the effects of state-level differences in labor regulation on labor market outcomes of women in India. I find that labor regulation has a large negative effect on women’s economic activity, mainly employment. A one standard deviation increase in the labor regulation measure decreases the probability of a woman being economically active by 3% to 4%—the implied decrease in female labor force is 15% to 18%. There is no significant effect on the gender wage gap. Finally, labor regulation is associated with women having less say at home and a lower sex ratio.

Suggested Citation

  • Josef Montag, 2013. "Is Pro-Labor Law Pro-Women? Evidence from India," MENDELU Working Papers in Business and Economics 2013-40, Mendel University in Brno, Faculty of Business and Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:men:wpaper:40_2013
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    gender gap; labor regulation; India;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • K31 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Labor Law

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