Does the Internet Reduce Gender Gaps? : The Case of Jordan
This article investigates the link between digital technologies and female labor market outcomes in a country with one of the largest gender disparities. It exploits the massive roll-out of mobile broadband technology in Jordan between 2010 and 201...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Working Paper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2020
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/282451584107082621/Does-the-Internet-Reduce-Gender-Gaps-The-Case-of-Jordan http://hdl.handle.net/10986/33443 |
| Summary: | This article investigates the link
between digital technologies and female labor market
outcomes in a country with one of the largest gender
disparities. It exploits the massive roll-out of mobile
broadband technology in Jordan between 2010 and 2016 to
identify the effect of internet adoption on labor force
participation. Using panel data at the individual level with
rich information on labor market outcomes, internet use and
gender-biased social norms, the article finds that internet
adoption increases female labor force participation but has
no effect on male labor force participation. The increase in
online job search explains some -- but not all -- of the
total increase in female labor force participation. Only
older and skilled women experience an increase in employment
in response to having internet access. The internet also
reduces the prevalence of gender-biased social norms, early
marriage and fertility. |
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