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Revisiting The Decline In India’s Female Labour Force Participation: The Rise Of Machines And Security Risks

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Listed:
  • Arlene Garces-Ozanne

    (Department of Economics, University of Otago, New Zealand)

  • Avatar Singh

    (Department of Economics, University of Otago, New Zealand)

Abstract

This article posits that the mechanisation of agriculture and security risks have significant negative effects on India’s female labour force participation rate. Despite remarkable economic progress in India, aggregate female labour force participation rate still show a declining trend since the late 1970s and traditional explanations such as decreasing fertility rates, rising wages and education levels could not completely explain this trend in female labour force participation. Using time-series data from 1980, we find evidence that the share of agriculture to the GDP, the mechanisation of agriculture, and security risks are the key determinants of female labour force participation.

Suggested Citation

  • Arlene Garces-Ozanne & Avatar Singh, 2017. "Revisiting The Decline In India’s Female Labour Force Participation: The Rise Of Machines And Security Risks," Working Papers 1712, University of Otago, Department of Economics, revised Dec 2017.
    • Handle: RePEc:otg:wpaper:1712
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    File URL: http://www.otago.ac.nz/economics/otago670806.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General
    • J20 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - General
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure

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