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Maids and mistresses : migrating maids and female labor force participation

Author

Listed:
  • Brishti Guha

    (Singapore Management University)

Abstract

We model the linkage between immigration of maids and intersectoral movements of female family labor in a small open economy with a competitive factory sector and a household sector which employs both immigrant maids and family labor. We show that relaxing immigration restrictions on maids will not necessarily increase participation by family labor in the formal workforce. We also show that reducing taxes on employment of maids will not necessarily increase labor force participation by local women – instead, imposing a tax (where there are none) may trigger such an increase depending on maids' and locals'' relative propensities to consume household sector output. Our analysis sheds light on one facet of the penetration of the household sector by market forces and yields some unexpected policy implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Brishti Guha, 2007. "Maids and mistresses : migrating maids and female labor force participation," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 10(11), pages 1-9.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-07j20002
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    File URL: http://www.accessecon.com/pubs/EB/2007/Volume10/EB-07J20002A.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael J. Pisani & David W. Yoskowitz, 2002. "The Maid Trade: Cross‐Border Work in South Texas," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 83(2), pages 568-579, June.
    2. Roland Cheo & Euston Quah, 2005. "Mothers, Maids and Tutors: An Empirical Evaluation of their Effect on Children's Academic Grades in Singapore," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(3), pages 269-285.
    3. Schultz, T. Paul, 1995. "Human Capital and Economic Development," 1994 Conference, August 22-29, 1994, Harare, Zimbabwe 183410, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    4. Brishti Guha, 2005. "Female labour force participation and labour saving gadgets," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(4), pages 483-495.
    5. Alwyn Young, 1995. "The Tyranny of Numbers: Confronting the Statistical Realities of the East Asian Growth Experience," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 110(3), pages 641-680.
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    Cited by:

    1. Peck-Leong Tan & John Gibson, 2013. "Impact of Foreign Maids on Female Labor Force Participation in Malaysia," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 27(2), pages 163-183, June.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J2 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor
    • F2 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business

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