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Women at work in Saudi Arabia: Impact of ICT diffusion and financial development

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  • Samargandi, Nahla
  • Al Mamun, Md
  • Sohag, Kazi
  • Alandejani, Maha

Abstract

We investigate the determinants of female labor force participation in Saudi Arabia , where religion and natural resources play a significant role in defining the social and economic parameters. Using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds test, we provide evidence that the supply of female labor and increased cost of living promote female labor force participation; while diffusion of information communication technology (ICT), membership of Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), oil resources, supply of foreign labor force, and the size of the government hinder it. We also show that financial development alters the negative impacts of ICT diffusion, CEDAW membership, and size of service economy on the female labor force participation.

Suggested Citation

  • Samargandi, Nahla & Al Mamun, Md & Sohag, Kazi & Alandejani, Maha, 2019. "Women at work in Saudi Arabia: Impact of ICT diffusion and financial development," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:59:y:2019:i:c:s0160791x19300478
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2019.101187
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    8. Christina Sanchita Shah & Supunmali Ahangama, 2023. "A Cross-Country Examination of Internet Penetration and the Economic Participation of Women: The Influence of Social Capital and Gender Equality," IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, , vol. 12(2), pages 182-196, July.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Female employment; ICT diffusion; CEDAW membership; Oil economy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E2 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment
    • J3 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs
    • J4 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets
    • P34 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - Finance

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