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Technology Disruption and Female Labor Force Participation: A Case for Uber

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  • Paula Alejandra Remicio-Tovar

    (Universidad de los Andes)

Abstract

This study analyzes the labor supply behavior of female Uber driver-partners in Bogota, Colombia, in response to the 2017 teacher’s strike. Using the Triple Differences approach, I compare men’s and women’s time worked and payment before and during the strike. I also compare the results based on their experience, and I find that the driver’s expertise significantly determined the extent of the strike’s effect. During the strike, both general and experienced female drivers worked 10.68 and 17.69 minutes more than men, respectively. The demographics of female Uber drivers suggest that the primary mechanisms behind the impact could have been the low dynamic ride prices and the change in their relative cost of time due to the teachers’ strike rather than increased childcare responsibilities. I use the concept of loss aversion and the income-targeting model to suggest that with the experience, female drivers tend to set a target income and are more averse than men to achieving outcomes below that benchmark. Thus, due to the strike’s negative effect on their income, they took advantage of the flexibility offered by Uber to soften the strike’s impact by working more between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Suggested Citation

  • Paula Alejandra Remicio-Tovar, 2024. "Technology Disruption and Female Labor Force Participation: A Case for Uber," Documentos CEDE 21132, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    • Handle: RePEc:col:000089:021132
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J46 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Informal Labor Market

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