Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-26T14:52:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GrazihelyBereniceFernandesSPaulon.pdf: 2103917 bytes, checksum: 405774d1b43b8fdf9f7a8bf18d912f63 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-08-19 / This thesis aims to study women contribution to the Rede de Economia Solidária (the Solidarity Economy Network) of Dourados-MS since the year 2000. This discussion is guided on the theoretical framework of gender, which allows reflection on power relations and social inequalities based on gender. Stereotypes historically created from women biological definitions are those that represent delicacy, sensitivity, the female essence, a fragile body, delegating it to the domestic sphere and as a tool for reproduction, while the man represents the strength, the intellectual, the head of the family and politics. Such assumptions are challenged daily and reveal new arrangements, they result in the restructuring of behaviors and ways of living the gender identities and social roles. The study of the arise and development of the Economia Solidária in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, aims to understand the historical process, the collective motivations that led these excluded groups to position themselves as subjects in theirs history, as well as effective changes in lives of women involved. In order to achieve that, it is used a qualitative methodology, based on the dialogue between the fields of history and sociology and on the use of certain procedures, including: documentary analysis and interviews. The written sources consist of official documents granted by Dourados City Hall, through its Social Assistance and Solidarity Economy Secretariat, the NGO Mulheres em Movimento, Banco Pirê and other government agencies. The other sources, non-written ones, are semi-structured interviews with women who participated directly or indirectly of the historical process of structuring the Solidarity Economy in Dourados. This group is composed of enterprising women and representatives of public agencies involved in the enactment of public policies since the period determined in this research. As the research developed it was possible to reach a theoretical reflection on the concept of Solidarity Economy and Gender. This is necessary to understand the working relations and gender in the context of an alternative economic model, its historical trajectory and its reality in the city context. This development allowed us to consider how the development of Solidarity Economy has become instrument for social inclusion and empowerment of low-income communities. It has contributed to the affirmation of these social actors in the uneven and dysfunctional social context. Furthermore, it was observed the progress and setbacks in the process of female emancipation, towards not only economic autonomy but in the context of decisions regarding their own lives. The social and political consequences of their actions enable new questions and provide solutions, reinforcing the need to hear these actors. History and Sociology play a fundamental role to demonstrate how people are part of a social dynamic in which there are constant dialogues and conflicts among different groups in society / Esta dissertação tem por objetivo analisar a participação das mulheres na Rede de Economia Solidária de Dourados-MS, a partir do ano 2000. Para tanto, a discussão está pautada no arcabouço teórico de gênero, o qual permite reflexões sobre as relações de poder e as desigualdades sociais fundamentadas no sexo. Os estereótipos criados historicamente a partir de definições biológicas para as mulheres são aqueles que simbolizam a delicadeza, a sensibilidade, a essência feminina, um corpo frágil, delegando-a ao espaço doméstico e como instrumento para a reprodução da espécie humana, enquanto o homem representa a força, o intelectual, o chefe de família e a política. No entanto, tais pressupostos são questionados cotidianamente e demonstram novas configurações. Estas resultam em reestruturações de comportamentos e modos de viver as identidades de gênero e os papéis sociais. A análise do surgimento e desenvolvimento da Economia Solidária em Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, tem o propósito de perceber no processo histórico, as motivações coletivas que levaram estes grupos excluídos a se posicionarem como sujeitos participantes de sua história, bem como as mudanças efetivadas nas vidas de mulheres envolvidas. Utiliza-se neste trabalho uma metodologia qualitativa, estruturada no diálogo entre os campos da História e da Sociologia e na utilização de alguns procedimentos, dentre eles: análise documental e entrevistas. As fontes escritas compõem-se dos documentos oficiais cedidos pela a Prefeitura Municipal de Dourados, através da Secretaria de Assistência Social e Economia Solidária, ONG Mulheres em Movimento, Banco Pirê e demais órgãos governamentais. As fontes orais são as entrevistas semi-estruturadas com as mulheres que participaram direta ou indiretamente do processo histórico de estruturação da Economia Solidária no município de Dourados, objetivando compreender as interfaces deste processo, seus avanços e recuos, além de analisar a relação com as políticas públicas efetivadas em âmbitos municipal, estadual e federal. Fazem parte deste grupo, as empreendedoras solidárias e também, os/as representantes dos órgãos públicos envolvidos na efetivação de políticas públicas a partir do período delimitado para esta pesquisa. Com o desenvolvimento da pesquisa foi possível chegar a uma reflexão teórica referente à conceituação de Economia Solidária e Gênero, necessária para compreender as relações de trabalho e gênero no contexto do modelo econômico alternativo, sua trajetória histórica e sua realidade no contexto douradense. Esse processo permitiu analisar como os empreendimentos de Economia Solidária, considerando o período de sua criação em Dourados, a partir de 2000, se transformaram em instrumentos de inclusão social e empoderamento das comunidades de baixa renda especialmente das mulheres que participam em maior número , contribuindo para a afirmação destes/as atores/atrizes sociais no contexto social desigual e conflituoso. Além disso, observou-se os avanços e os recuos no processo de emancipação feminina, rumo à autonomia não somente econômica mas no âmbito das decisões referentes aos rumos de sua vida. Cada vez mais as conseqüências sociais e políticas de sua atuação possibilitam novos questionamentos e trazem soluções, fortalecendo a necessidade de ouvir estes/as atores/atrizes. A História e a Sociologia, neste sentido, possuem papel fundamental para demonstrar como as pessoas fazem parte de uma dinâmica social, na qual há diálogos e conflitos constantes entre os diferentes grupos na sociedade

This thesis analysed the effect of female labor force participation rate (FLFPR) on economicgrowth and included changes in male labor force participation rate (MLFPR) to help improve thepower of the model. Here, three robust regressions were used on the sample of 16 Latin Countries(Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala,Honduras, Venezuela, RB, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, El Salvador) for theperiod of 1995-2015 in order to identify the effect of each key variable when tested separately andwhen tested together. According to the results, the coefficients of FLFPR and MLFPR are differentand also the addition of MLFPR to the model that has an explanatory variable FLFPR anddependent variable economic growth clearly improves the predicting power of the model and helpsobtain better coefficients. It was also identified that FLFPR has a strong positive relationship witheconomic growth, while MLFPR has a negative effect on the latter. Finally, the existence of u-shape relationship between FLFPR and economic growth was reaffirmed in this thesis, while itwas also shown that MLFPR does not have a u-shape relationship with the economic growth.

Thesis advisor: Christopher Maxwell / The questions that this paper intends to answer are: 1) Is there a U-shaped relationship between the female labor force participation (FLFP) rate and development in the present day? And 2) If we group countries geographically, will we see the U-shaped function outlined as development occurs over time? The U-shaped function is important because it allows us to predict the direction that the FLFP rate will move, dependent on a country's level of development. This prediction is crucial because there are endless gains of increased FLFP to both women and to society at large. Previous research has shown that in a snapshot in time (1985), there was evidence of the U-shaped function. However, there has been little research on how the function has played out throughout the past 30+ years. This paper finds that the U- shaped function remains robust to present day data. However, grouping countries geographically does not always produce results that support movement along the U-shaped function. Having a clearer understanding of the trends that FLFP follows through development will allow us to more successfully monitor and create policy to help women and society at large reap the benefits of increased women in the workforce. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2019. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Departmental Honors. / Discipline: Economics.

This dissertation consists of three essays studying the determination and evolution of labor supply in China. The analysis especially focuses on the labor market behavior of the wage workers with urban registration (Hukou). The first chapter outlines the dissertation by briefly discussing the motivations, methods, and main findings in each of the following chapters. Chapter two examines the evolution of female labor supply in urban China. Female labor force participation rate in China has been declining rapidly over the last three decades. Using a time series of cross-sections from the Chinese Household Income Project Series (CHIPS), this chapter attempts to systematically relate the decrease in female labor force participation to the socio-economic changes happening in China during the same period, and assess their respective contributions. Adopting both linear and non-linear decomposition techniques, the results show that during 1988-1995, changes in population age distribution and family size both contribute, during 1995-2002, age effect dominates, and during 2002-2007, non-labor income effect dominates in explaining the decreasing trend in female labor force participation. Chapter three investigates the impact of social norms on married women's labor supply decision in China. Using data from the China General Social Survey (CGSS) and the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), we find a strong and robust positive correlation between the labor supply behavior of a married woman and the former work experience of her mother-in-law. Our estimation results indicate that being raised by a working mother influences both a man's attitude toward gender roles and his household productivity, and therefore married women whose mothers-in-law were not working are themselves significantly less likely to participate in the labor force. The last chapter evaluates the labor market consequence of rural-to-urban migration in China. Starting from the mid-1990s, there is a remarkable increase in the number of migrant workers in cities, from around 39 million in 1997 to 145 million by 2009 (Meng et al. 2013). Chapter four intends to explore how does this important economic event affect the labor market conditions of urban residents. Specifically, we estimate the possible employment and earnings displacement effects of rural-to-urban migration on urban residents by exploiting regional variation in the rural migrant share of education-experience cells. We use multiple sets of instrumental variable to address the potential endogeneity problems associated with the rural migrant ratio in a city. The estimation results are consistent with the predictions of the textbook model of a competitive labor market, indicating the inflow of rural migrants reduces the wage and labor supply of competing urban residents. / Ph. D.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Economics / Dong Li / This dissertation is a combination of three essays on spatial econometrics and labor economics. Essays 1 and 2 developed double length regression (DLR) tests for testing functional form and spatial dependence, which includes spatial error dependence and spatial lag dependence. More specifically, these essays derive the DLR joint, DLR one-direction, and DLR conditional tests for testing functional forms and spatial dependence. The essays also provide empirical examples and Monte Carlo simulations to examine how the DLR tests perform in the empirical work and how the power of the DLR test depends on changes in functional form and spatial dependence. The results suggested that DLR tests work similarly to its Lagrangian Multiplier (LM) counterpart for testing functional form and spatial dependence in the empirical example and simulations. The DLR tests do not require the second-order derivatives of the log-likelihood function, so they provide practitioners an easy-to-use method to test for functional forms and spatial dependence. Essay 3 investigates the effects of fertility on parental labor force participation and labor supply in Vietnam. The essay uses instrumental variable (IV) probit models to estimate the effects of fertility on parental labor force participation and the IV models to estimate the effects of fertility on parental labor supply. Using the gender of the first child and the same gender of the first two children as two instrumental variables, this essay found negative effects of fertility on maternal labor force participation and labor supply. It also found positive effects of fertility on paternal labor force participation and labor supply. The results suggest that fertility had the specialization effect on parental labor force participation and labor supply in Vietnam. The homogeneity test results indicate that the magnitude of the effects of fertility on parental labor force participation and labor supply is different among parents and locations.

This thesis seeks to explore the social, cultural, economic and political factors that influence female labor force participation rates. Specifically, this research will focus on female economic activity in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region. MENA is often understood as being monolithic in its treatment of women. This study aims to challenge this rhetoric by evaluating the factors that impact female labor in MENA. Upon considering multiple social, cultural, economic and political factors, this thesis will focus on the role of oil and religion in influencing female labor rates. Finally, this study will explore these influences on a micro-level and the role of oil and religion will be examined as to how they apply to female economic activity in both Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

What is the relationship between gender inequality and resource wealth in the Middle East? Why has progression of women’s rights in the Middle East advanced at a comparatively slower rate than most of the world? Conventional wisdom attributes the continued significant gaps in gender equality to the region’s strong patriarchic culture associated with Islam. However, recent statistical analysis conducted by Michael Ross suggests a correlation between oil production and women’s rights. This thesis examines an emerging schism in the literature and evaluates the relationship between social and political emancipation of women relative to Islam and oil wealth. The findings of this examination conclude that Ross’s theoretical framework is incomplete: Islamic law is a key causal mechanism left out of his examination. Furthermore, Islamic law has a more comprehensive negative impact on women’s social and political rights than oil wealth.

Female labor force participation varies widely across regions and cultures, typically with more working women in developed than developing countries. Because there are significant differences between developed and developing countries that go beyond GDP, this paper examines the effects of certain development indicators on female workforce participation across these countries. Using models from past literature, I include indicators that cover personal and labor market characteristics. In this analysis, I find that education and unemployment rates continue to be significant determinants of female labor force participation in both developed and developing countries, with several key differences in the effect of various types of unemployment. Furthermore, my study supports the existence of an initial tradeoff between female labor force participation and development as the economic sectors within a country shift. These results provide valuable insights on these general trends across national borders and therefore are important for policy makers.

This dissertation is divided into five chapters consisting of three short essays that concentrate on economic analysis of health, savings and labor. The first essay is aimed at investigating the influence of increased work hours on individuals’ health and how this may differ between males and females. It is expected that increased hours of work will have a negative impact on health but this impact may be stronger for females. In the second essay, the relationship between individuals’ health and savings behavior is analyzed. Healthy individuals are expected to be more productive, earn higher incomes, and have lower medical expenditures compared to unhealthy individuals. It is therefore expected that individuals’ health will have a positive influence on their saving behavior. The third paper analyzes the effect of increased work, as proxied by labor force participation, on health, as proxied by life expectancy, at the macro level. The main aim of the analysis in the third essay is to investigate whether or not increased female labor force participation is a contributing factor to the narrowing gap between the life expectancy of females and males. In the final chapter of this dissertation, I provide a summary of my findings on the relationships between work, health, and savings. I also provide directions for future research.

Over the past several decades there has been extensive research done in an attempt to determine what demographic characteristics affect economic growth, measured in GDP per capita. Understanding what influences the growth of a country will vastly help policy makers enact policies to lead the country in a positive direction. This research focuses on isolating a new variable, women in the work force. As well as isolating a new variable, this research will modify a preexisting variable that was shown to be significant in order to make the variable more robust and sensitive to recessions. The intent of this thesis is to explore the relationship between several demographic characteristics and their effect on the growth rate of GDP per capita. The first step is to reproduce the work done by Barlow (1994) to ensure that the United States follows similar rules as the countries in his research. Afterwards, we will introduce new variables into the model, comparing the goodness of fit through the methods of R-squared, AIC and BIC. There have been several models developed to answer each of the research questions independently.