The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women's welfare and domestic burdens in Bolivia

The coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) is threatening the well-being of citizens in most countries of the world, however women and men could be affected in different ways. This study uses a gender-sensitive computable general equilibrium model linked to a micro model to assess the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on poverty and inequality in Bolivia. This paper simulates both a moderate and severe scenario, to represent the pandemic. The results reveal negative effects for all economic agents that worsen in proportion to the severity of the scenario. In addition, female-headed households in general and those headed by unskilled women in particular are the most affected, as they experience significant reductions in employment and the largest increases in household burdens. This is due to the significant presence of female labour in the sectors most affected by Covid-19. Likewise, both simulations lead to increases in poverty and inequality, with women being more affected than men, mainly under the severe scenario, which ultimately results in Bolivian women becoming a highly vulnerable group.