Modelling gender dimensions of the impact of economic reforms on time allocation among market, household, and leisure activities in Pakistan
Rizwana Siddiqui
Pakistan Development Review 44(4(II)): 615-639
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-9729 Document Number: 266157
A gendered computable general equilibrium model for Pakistan, based on a gendered social accounting matrix, is developed to analyse the gendered impact of economic reforms (trade liberalization and fiscal adjustment), specifically on the time allocation between market, household and leisure activities by women and men. The study shows that trade liberalization with compensatory measures (adjustments in taxes on production) increases aggregate demand for female and male labour. However, it suggests that the impact of trade liberalization must be evaluated not only through market-based criteria such as whether trade liberalization maximizes flows of goods and services and increases employment opportunities or not, but also include factors like unpaid household work and leisure to reveal the true cost of adjustment. It is indicated that trade liberalization with compensatory measures reduces the wage gap, unemployment and income poverty. However, despite significant change in women's employment in the market, gender division of labour within the households remains unequal and so trade liberalization overburdens women.