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Maids and mistresses : migrating maids and female labor force participation

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  • 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
    as

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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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    3. 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.
    4. 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.
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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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