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The role of social networks in employment outcomes of Bolivian women

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Listed:
  • Dante Contreras Guajardo
  • Diana kruger
  • Marcelo Ochoa
  • Daniela Zapata

Abstract

This paper explores the role of social networks in determining labor market participation and salaried employment of Bolivian women and men. We define social networks as the share of neighbors that have jobs, and find that networks encourage women’s labor force participation and that they are effective channels through which women and men find salaried employment. Furthermore, men and urban women use same sex contacts to find salaried work. Our findings suggest that social networks have positive externalities that may reduce gender disparities in Bolivia’s labor market: educating women, for instance, has a direct individual effect—labor market participation in better jobs—and an indirect effect by enlarging the female social network.

Suggested Citation

  • Dante Contreras Guajardo & Diana kruger & Marcelo Ochoa & Daniela Zapata, 2007. "The role of social networks in employment outcomes of Bolivian women," Working Papers wp251, University of Chile, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:udc:wpaper:wp251
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    Cited by:

    1. Zapata, Daniela & Contreras, Dante & Kruger, Diana, 2011. "Child Labor and Schooling in Bolivia: Who's Falling Behind? The Roles of Domestic Work, Gender, and Ethnicity," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 39(4), pages 588-599, April.
    2. Dante Contreras Guajardo & Diana Kruger & Daniela Zapata, 2007. "Child labor and schooling in Bolivia: Who’s falling behind?," Working Papers wp248, University of Chile, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    gender; employment; social networks; neighborhood effects.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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