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The Gender Gap in Agricultural Productivity: The Role of Market Imperfections

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  • Amparo Palacios-L�pez
  • Ram�n L�pez

Abstract

This paper hypothesises that labour and credit market imperfections - by discouraging off-farm income-generating activities and restricting access to inputs, respectively - affect female farm productivity more deeply than male productivity. The paper develops a theoretical model, which decomposes the contribution of various market imperfections to the gender productivity gap. Empirically we show that agricultural labour productivity is, on average, 44 per cent lower on female-headed plots than on those managed by male heads. 34 per cent of this gap is explained by differences in labour market access and 29 per cent by differences in credit access.

Suggested Citation

  • Amparo Palacios-L�pez & Ram�n L�pez, 2015. "The Gender Gap in Agricultural Productivity: The Role of Market Imperfections," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(9), pages 1175-1192, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:51:y:2015:i:9:p:1175-1192
    DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2015.1028539
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    1. Palacios-Lopez, Amparo & Christiaensen, Luc & Kilic, Talip, 2017. "How much of the labor in African agriculture is provided by women?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 52-63.
    2. Joseph I. Uduji & Elda N. Okolo-Obasi, 2022. "Gender Equity and Land: the Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Niger Delta, Nigeria," Working Papers 22/093, European Xtramile Centre of African Studies (EXCAS).
    3. Islam, Asif M. & Amin, Mohammad, 2023. "The gender labor productivity gap across informal firms," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    4. Joseph Ikechukwu Uduji & Elda N. Okolo‐Obasi & Simplice A. Asongu, 2019. "Corporate social responsibility and the role of rural women in sustainable agricultural development in sub‐Saharan Africa: Evidence from the Niger Delta in Nigeria," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(4), pages 692-703, July.
    5. Dabkiene, Vida & Siksnelyte-Butkiene, Indre & Streimikiene, Dalia & Sapolaite, Vaida & Balezentis, Tomas, 2025. "From glass to grass ceiling: Addressing gender barriers in agricultural innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    6. Joseph I. Uduji & Elda N. Okolo-Obasi & Vincent A. Onodugo & Justitia O. Nnabuko & Babatunde A. Adedibu, 2020. "Corporate Social Responsibility and the Role of Rural Women in Strengthening Agriculture-Tourism Linkages in Nigeria’s Oil Producing Communities," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 20/067, African Governance and Development Institute..
    7. Joseph I. Uduji & Elda N. Okolo-Obasi & Vincent A. Onodugo & Justitia O. Nnabuko & Babatunde A. Adedibu, 2020. "Corporate Social Responsibility and the Role of Rural Women in Strengthening Agriculture-Tourism Linkages in Nigeria’s Oil Producing Communities," Research Africa Network Working Papers 20/067, Research Africa Network (RAN).
    8. Joseph Ikechukwu Uduji & Elda Nduka Okolo‐Obasi, 2023. "Gender equity and land: The role of corporate social responsibility in Niger Delta, Nigeria," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(6), pages 1216-1238, August.
    9. Isis Gaddis & Gbemisola Oseni & Amparo Palacios-Lopez & Janneke Pieters, 2021. "Measuring Farm Labor: Survey Experimental Evidence from Ghana," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 35(3), pages 604-634.
    10. Md. Wakilur Rahman & Md. Salauddin Palash & Hasneen Jahan & Shokhrukh-Mirzo Jalilov & Mohammed Mainuddin, 2020. "An Empirical Investigation of Men’s Views of Women’s Contribution to Farming in Northwest Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-21, April.
    11. Araar, Abdelkrim, 2021. "The Gender Gap in Smallholder Agricultural Productivity: The Case of Cameroon," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315902, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    12. Joseph I. Uduji & Elda N. Okolo-Obasi & Vincent A. Onodugo & Justitia O. Nnabuko & Babatunde A. Adedibu, 2020. "Corporate Social Responsibility and the Role of Rural Women in Strengthening Agriculture-Tourism Linkages in Nigeria’s Oil Producing Communities," Working Papers 20/067, European Xtramile Centre of African Studies (EXCAS).
    13. Joseph I. Uduji & Elda N. Okolo-Obasi, 2022. "Gender Equity and Land: the Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Niger Delta, Nigeria," Working Papers of The Association for Promoting Women in Research and Development in Africa (ASPROWORDA). 22/022, The Association for Promoting Women in Research and Development in Africa (ASPROWORDA).
    14. Joseph I. Uduji & Elda N. Okolo-Obasi, 2022. "Gender Equity and Land: the Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in Niger Delta, Nigeria," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 22/093, African Governance and Development Institute..
    15. Isis Gaddis & Gbemisola Oseni & Amparo Palacios-Lopez & Janneke Pieters, 2023. "Who Is Employed? Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa on Redefining Employment," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 32(2), pages 151-174.

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