Thirteenth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

Despite the overall economic globalization we have seen during the last few decades, which for example is evident by the increase in the share of world exports to world GDP, it is now well-established that the exports-to-GDP ratios have been decreasing for about one third of the world’s countries during the last three decades. This paper examines how female labor force participation rates (FLFPRs) have changed during periods of significant globalization and periods of significant marginalization based on the experience of more than 130 countries and territories all over the world. It also examines the change in labor force participation rates of females relative to that of males. To reduce the possible distortion resulting from changes in tertiary education rates, we focus initially on LFPRs between ages 25 to 64, though we also examine LFPRs between ages 15 to 24. Preliminary regression results indicate that both globalization and marginalization had a negative impact on FLFPRs between ages 25-64. This negative impact on FLFPRs is consistent with our findings that globalization and marginalization are both positively associated with the gap between female and male LFPRs. To shed some light on the sources for these changes in FLFPRs, we then examine how consistent these overall changes are for the group of industrialized and developing countries.