CMSSE Research seminar with Andrey Stoyanov

CMSSE is happy to invite everyone to the research seminar where Andrey Stoyanov (York University) is presenting "Female Labor Supply and Foreign Trade" (joint with Ke Gu).

Date & Time: Thursday, September 16, 2021, 15:00-16:00.

Venue: St. Petersburg, Kantemirovskaya st., 3a, 5th floor, Center for Market Studies and Spatial Economics

 

Abstract

We study the effect of female labor supply on foreign trade using spatial variation in gender ratios across Chinese regions, caused by the one-child policy (OCP). Regional differences in OCP enforcement affect relative female labor supply and availability of gender-specific skills. These regional differences interact with sector-specific differences in intensities in gender-specific skills. Other things equal, cities with higher female labor supply specialize in industries which use female labor intensively. We empirically confirm this insight for the sample of 283 Chinese prefecture cities, using spatial variation in OCP stringency as an exogenous female labor supply shifter. We interpret our results as highlighting the importance of labor force gender composition for industry’s productivity. Our results imply that the effect of gender imbalances in labor supply on labor market outcomes, observed in many parts of the world, can be mitigated through international trade by utilizing relatively abundant type of labor in export-oriented industries.