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Preferences and the Puzzle of Female Labor Force Participation

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  • Majbouri, Mahdi

    (Babson College)

Abstract

Women’s educational attainment has continuously increased across the Middle East, while fertility rates have declined substantially. Yet their labor force participation remains stubbornly low. To investigate this puzzle, I use a discrete choice experiment in Egypt that varies the gender composition of the work environment—a key but underexplored dimension. I find that men, who have final say over women’s work decisions, demand 77% higher wages for their wives if the job is in a mixed-gender setting. Since few workplaces are all-female and men can veto women’s employment, these findings help explain the persistently low female participation rate.

Suggested Citation

  • Majbouri, Mahdi, 2025. "Preferences and the Puzzle of Female Labor Force Participation," IZA Discussion Papers 17952, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17952
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hadi Salehi Esfahani & Parastoo Shajari, 2012. "Gender, Education, Family Structure, And The Allocation Of Labor In Iran," Middle East Development Journal (MEDJ), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 4(02), pages 1-40.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J29 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Other
    • J49 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Other

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