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Trade Openness and Female Employment: An Empirical Sectoral Analysis from Kenya

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  • Charles Munene Gachoki

    (School of Economics, Kenyatta University Nairobi, Kenya.)

Abstract

Gender equality promotes a country’s development potential and is therefore considered to play an important role in economic development. This study probes the effects of economic determinants on female employment in the agricultural sector in Kenya by considering economic and social factors. The study employs the ARDL approach for the period 1980-2019. There is a long-term link between economic and social determinants and female employment in the agricultural sector, which has been validated empirically. The results indicate that per capita income, inflation and exports encourage female employment, while foreign direct investment, fertility rate and imports impact female employment in the agricultural sector negatively in Kenya. The main policy implication based on results is that trade openness in form of exports should be promoted to increase female employment in the agricultural sector in Kenya. There is a need to shift Kenya's imports from food-based to capital-intensive imports to promote women's employment in the agricultural sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Charles Munene Gachoki, 2022. "Trade Openness and Female Employment: An Empirical Sectoral Analysis from Kenya," International Journal of Science and Business, IJSAB International, vol. 16(1), pages 42-58.
  • Handle: RePEc:aif:journl:v:16:y:2022:i:1:p:42-58
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Rulia Akhtar & Muhammad Mehedi Masud & Nusrat Jafrin & Sharifah Muhairah Shahabudin, 2023. "Economic growth, gender inequality, openness of trade, and female labour force participation: a nonlinear ARDL approach," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1725-1752, June.

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