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Manufacturing employment and women’s agency: Evidence from Lesotho 2004–2014

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  • Grogan, Louise

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of manufacturing employment on women’s health and decision-making power within households in Lesotho. Under the US African Growth and Opportunity Act of 2000, the employment of women in ready-made garment (RMG) factories in new industrial zones greatly increased. Subsequent shocks to international demand for textile products created by the phase-out of the Multi-Fibre Agreement and the 2008 Financial Crisis temporarily reduced well-paid RMG work opportunities. Women residing closer to the industrial zones were particularly affected. These changes are exploited for identification of causal impacts. Employment in the RMG sector is found to substantially increase women’s say in decisions about the allocation of household resources and own health.

Suggested Citation

  • Grogan, Louise, 2023. "Manufacturing employment and women’s agency: Evidence from Lesotho 2004–2014," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:160:y:2023:i:c:s0304387822000979
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2022.102951
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Lesotho; Manufacturing; Trade; Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA); Demographic and Health Surveys; IPUMS census; World Bank Enterprise Surveys; Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS); Female labour supply; Contraceptives; Fertility; Autonomy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • P0 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - General
    • P13 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Cooperative Enterprises

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