Allocation of Female Talent and Cross-Country Productivity Differences

A-Tier
Journal: Economic Journal
Year: 2024
Volume: 134
Issue: 664
Pages: 3333-3359

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Cross-country disparities in labour productivity are more pronounced in agriculture than other sectors. I posit that the misallocation of female talent between sectors distorts productivity and formalise a general equilibrium Roy model with gender-specific frictions. If female workers encounter greater barriers in non-agricultural sectors, female workers who are better skilled at non-agricultural jobs may select into the agricultural sector. Analysis of data from sixty-six countries reveals that low-income countries have higher frictions against female workers in non-agricultural sectors. By aligning these frictions with those of the United States, agricultural labour productivity sees gains of 2.5%–7.6%, with GDP per capita rising by 0.5%–1.5% on average.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:econjl:v:134:y:2024:i:664:p:3333-3359.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-25