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Women’s economic rights in developing countries and the gender gap in migration to Germany Cover

Women’s economic rights in developing countries and the gender gap in migration to Germany

Open Access
|Oct 2021

Figures & Tables

Table 1

Women’s economic rights and the female share of migrants from developing coming to Germany

M1M2
(Women's share of migrants)t−10.771*** (0.034)0.433*** (0.075)
Women's economic rights0.079*** (0.016)0.089** (0.045)
Per capita income0.074 (0.048)−0.414 (0.554)
Growth in per capita income0.053 (0.034)0.021 (0.032)
Democracy (polity2)0.017 (0.054)0.105 (0.216)
Major political violence dummy variable−0.525 (1.105)−1.397 (3.768)
Distance to Germany (ln)1.687*** (0.588)
Visa requirement dummy variable1.237** (0.618)
Country effectsRandomFixed
Year fixed effectsYesYes
Observations825825
Number of countries112112
R20.839
Zero autocorrelation in first-differenced Errors test z-statistic (p-value)1.433 (0.152)

Notes: Dependent variable is female share of migrants coming to Germany (in percent). Random country effects included in M1, fixed country effects in M2. Standard errors clustered on countries of origin in parentheses.

*** Statistically significant at 0.01 level.

** Statistically significant at 0.05 level.

* Statistically significant at 0.1 level.

Table 2

Robustness tests: employing an alternative measure of women’s rights

M3 World Bank measureM4 World Bank measure
(Women’s share of migrants)t−10.835*** (0.033)0.705*** (0.049)
Women’s economic rights0.064*** (0.021)0.057** (0.023)
Per capita income0.073*** (0.022)0.040 (0.025)
Growth in per capita income0.034 (0.025)0.023 (0.022)
Democracy (polity2)−0.013 (0.050)0.024 (0.059)
Major political violence dummy variable−0.324 (0.924)−0.731 (1.176)
Distance to Germany (ln)1.549*** (0.449)3.918** (1.748)
Visa requirement dummy variable0.861* (0.508)3.226*** (0.807)
Country/subregional effectsRandomSubregional fixed
Year fixed effectsYesYes
Observations1,0661,066
Number of countries122122
R20.7880.806

Notes: Dependent variable is female share of migrants coming to Germany (in percent). Random country effects included in M3. Subregional fixed effects included in M4. Standard errors clustered on countries of origin in parentheses.

*** Statistically significant at 0.01 level.

** Statistically significant at 0.05 level.

* Statistically significant at 0.1 level.

Table 3

Robustness tests: economic versus political rights

M5 Civil society participationM6 Civil society participationM7 Political participationM8 Political participation
Women’s political rights2.668 (2.117)6.747 (6.207)1.834 (1.883)−0.025 (5.835)
(Women’s share of migrants)t−10.778*** (0.032)0.426*** (0.077)0.778*** (0.033)0.435*** (0.075)
Women’s economic rights0.073*** (0.017)0.083* (0.045)0.076*** (0.016)0.089** (0.044)
Per capita income0.064 (0.049)−0.482 (0.589)0.073 (0.049)−0.410 (0.556)
Growth in per capita income0.055 (0.034)0.021 (0.033)0.050 (0.033)0.022 (0.032)
Democracy (polity2)−0.030 (0.056)0.046 (0.229)0.002 (0.053)0.121 (0.224)
Major political violence dummy−0.280 (1.088)−1.172 (3.817)−0.390 (1.137)−1.319 (3.776)
Distance to Germany (ln)1.677*** (0.544)1.575*** (0.566)
Visa requirement dummy1.115* (0.610)1.301** (0.607)
Country effectsRandomFixedRandomFixed
Year fixed effectsYesYesYesYes
Observations824824824824
Number of countries111111111111
R20.8400.839
Zero autocorrelation in first-diff. Errors test z-statistic (p-value)1.486 (0.137)1.429 (0.153)

Notes: Dependent variable is female share of migrants coming to Germany (in percent). Random country effects included in M5 and M7, fixed country effects in M6 and M8. Standard errors clustered on countries of origin in parentheses.

*** Statistically significant at 0.01 level.

** Statistically significant at 0.05 level.

* Statistically significant at 0.1 level.

Table 4

Robustness tests: allowing for non-linear effects

M9M10M11M12
(Women’s share of migrants)t−10.765*** (0.034)0.435*** (0.074)0.778*** (0.034)0.412*** (0.071)
Women’s economic rights0.197*** (0.048)0.357*** (0.082)0.070*** (0.016)0.085** (0.043)
Women’s economic rights sq.−0.001*** (0.000)−0.003*** (0.001)
Per capita income0.079 (0.049)−0.529 (0.565)0.270** (0.112)0.326 (0.862)
Per capita income squared−0.005** (0.002)−0.021 (0.016)
Growth in per capita income0.051 (0.033)0.021 (0.031)0.055 (0.036)0.012 (0.034)
Democracy (polity2)0.016 (0.054)0.114 (0.229)0.010 (0.055)0.076 (0.201)
Major political violence dummy−0.641 (1.139)−1.657 (3.697)−0.377 (1.061)−0.555 (3.740)
Distance to Germany (ln)1.635*** (0.606)1.762*** (0.596)
Visa requirement dummy0.991* (0.591)1.372** (0.661)
Country effectsRandomFixedRandomFixed
Year fixed effectsYesYesYesYes
Observations825825825825
Number of countries112112112112
R20.8420.839
Zero autocorrelation in first-diff. Errors test z-statistic (p-value)1.334 (0.1822)1.387 (0.166)

Notes: Dependent variable is female share of migrants coming to Germany (in percent). Random country effects included in M9 and M11, fixed country effects in M10 and M12. Standard errors clustered on countries of origin in parentheses.

*** Statistically significant at 0.01 level.

** Statistically significant at 0.05 level.

* Statistically significant at 0.1 level.

Table 5

Robustness tests: restrictions on the minimum size of migrant population

Minimum number restrictionM13 >250M14 >250M15 >500M16 >500
(Women’s share of migrants)t−10.934*** (0.014)0.753*** (0.104)0.938*** (0.015)0.675*** (0.095)
Women’s economic rights0.052*** (0.011)0.077** (0.033)0.053*** (0.013)0.072** (0.031)
Per capita income−0.001 (0.020)0.315 (0.422)−0.026 (0.041)1.046** (0.463)
Growth in per capita income0.034** (0.013)0.015 (0.031)0.030** (0.012)−0.010 (0.026)
Democracy (polity2)0.003 (0.029)0.262 (0.169)0.005 (0.030)0.381** (0.172)
Major political violence dummy0.644 (0.486)−2.308 (2.843)0.498 (0.511)−0.584 (2.276)
Distance to Germany (ln)0.642*** (0.215)0.461* (0.254)
Visa requirement dummy−0.066 (0.369)−0.476 (0.607)
Country effectsRandomFixedRandomFixed
Year fixed effectsYesYesYesYes
Observations538538445445
Number of countries78786969
R20.9380.942
Zero autocorrelation in first-diff. Errors test z-statistic (p-value)−0.984 (0.325)−2.22 (0.026)

Notes: Dependent variable is female share of migrants coming to Germany (in percent). Random country effects included in M13 and M15, fixed country effects in M14 and M16. Standard errors clustered on countries of origin in parentheses.

*** Statistically significant at 0.01 level.

** Statistically significant at 0.05 level.

* Statistically significant at 0.1 level.

Table 6

Robustness tests: specifying explanatory variables as predetermined/endogenous and restricting maximum length of lags used as instruments

Explanatory variables specified as: maximum lag length of explanatory variables as instruments: maximum lag length of dependent variable as instrumentsM17 pred.
T–1
T–2
M18 end.
T–2
T–2
M19 pred.
2
T–2
M20 end.
2
T–2
M21 pred.
2
2
M22 end.
2
2
(Women’s share of migrants)t−10.463*** (0.058)0.477*** (0.058)0.484*** (0.068)0.519*** (0.067)0.508*** (0.067)0.541*** (0.065)
Women’s economic rights0.106*** (0.033)0.121*** (0.035)0.130*** (0.042)0.159*** (0.042)0.118*** (0.043)0.144*** (0.042)
Per capita income0.176 (0.108)0.140 (0.090)0.125 (0.093)0.065 (0.081)0.125 (0.093)0.072 (0.081)
Growth in per capita income0.021 (0.039)0.011 (0.036)0.019 (0.041)0.013 (0.047)0.020 (0.040)0.011 (0.046)
Democracy (polity2)0.252 (0.162)0.232 (0.176)0.214 (0.216)0.140 (0.233)0.243 (0.231)0.180 (0.250)
Major political violence dummy−2.435 (3.285)0.352 (3.164)−3.386 (3.186)1.050 (3.188)−3.506 (3.133)0.752 (3.033)
Country effectsFixedFixedFixedFixedFixedFixed
Year fixed effectsYesYesYesYesYesYes
Observations825825825825825825
Number of countries112112112112112112
Zero autocorrelation in first-diff. Errors test z-statistic (p-value)−0.984 (0.325)−0.984 (0.325)−0.984 (0.325)−0.984 (0.325)−2.22 (0.026)−2.22 (0.026)

Notes: Dependent variable is female share of migrants coming to Germany (in percent). Standard errors clustered on countries of origin in parentheses.

*** Statistically significant at 0.01 level.

** Statistically significant at 0.05 level.

* Statistically significant at 0.1 level.

#Migrants%Women
Mali5,4097.19
Gambia18,7478.01
Guinea-Bissau2,56810.51
Niger1,41912.12
Algeria31,84012.50
Chad1,04412.74
Sudan7,99814.08
Guinea16,31714.17
Mauritania1,10115.44
Senegal7,20416.21
Liberia1,09616.51
Bangladesh16,18717.61
Burkina Faso (Upper Volta)2,47117.77
Benin2,78219.55
Pakistan81,19119.73
Sierra Leone3,75122.18
Côte D’Ivoire6,67924.82
Eritrea66,84726.67
Tunisia31,36428.68
Egypt34,60829.44
Afghanistan258,26829.61
Libya23,79930.00
India167,67532.68
Lebanon24,27633.01
Morocco62,90733.26
Yemen6,30434.57
Tajikistan6,53534.80
Ghana25,80535.03
Syria696,51637.14
Iraq232,36538.16
Albania125,26638.51
Ethiopia15,83038.75
Nigeria52,28238.80
Iran98,93638.80
Congo1,20139.80
Turkey (Ottoman Empire)230,51339.87
Togo5,11740.18
Jordan11,18440.29
Jamaica1,00541.00
Georgia37,60441.20
Serbia98,87241.61
Myanmar (Burma)1,50341.78
Cameroon20,56042.31
Tanzania2,08142.62
Sri Lanka10,62942.72
Congo, Dem. Rep.3,45943.60
Azerbaijan20,09743.96
Rwanda1,03544.73
Angola3,29544.80
Malaysia6,38245.03
North Macedonia99,90945.27
Guatemala1,13446.47
Argentina8,32246.97
Mexico32,02647.13
Nepal8,63848.67
Uzbekistan5,37749.01
Costa Rica2,18249.36
Vietnam47,94549.49
Moldova19,66650.34
Uganda2,22650.36
Armenia23,27550.46
South Africa7,02250.66
China177,06850.77
Ecuador6,13552.09
Indonesia20,77052.97
El Salvador1,27852.97
Venezuela6,20953.81
Cuba6,17454.08
Singapore4,01254.29
Brazil62,70354.44
Honduras1,22654.65
Turkmenistan2,43955.35
Colombia21,71456.33
Bolivia2,52756.95
Paraguay1,73758.09
Peru7,98060.11
Zimbabwe2,28760.25
Russia167,15360.35
Mongolia6,15460.61
Kazakhstan16,42360.66
Ukraine86,39760.80
Dominican Republic5,21262.28
Belarus14,30663.88
Kyrgyz Republic5,50863.98
Philippines18,53966.61
Kenya9,28168.24
Thailand27,46276.21
Madagascar2,40781.14

[i] Note: Only countries shown with total migrant entry of 1,000 or above over the 2009–2018 period.

Going places
Can a woman apply for a passport in the same way as a man?
Can a woman legally travel outside the country in the same way as a man?
Can a woman legally travel outside her home in the same way as a man?
Can a woman legally choose where to live in the same way as a man?
Starting a job
Can a woman get a job or pursue a trade or profession in the same way as a man?
Does the law mandate non-discrimination based on gender in employment?
Is there legislation on sexual harassment in employment?
Are there criminal penalties or civil remedies for sexual harassment in employment?
Getting paid
Does the law mandate equal remuneration for work of equal value?
Can women work the same night hours as men?
Can women work in jobs deemed hazardous, arduous, or morally inappropriate in the same way as men?
Are women able to work in the same industries as men?
Getting married
Is a married woman not legally required to obey her husband?
Can a woman be head of household or head of the family in the same way as a man?
Is there domestic violence legislation?
Can a woman obtain a judgment of divorce in the same way as a man?
Do women have the same rights to remarry as men?
Having children
Is there paid leave of at least 14 weeks available to women?
Does the government pay 100% of maternity leave benefits, or parental leave benefits (where maternity leave is unavailable)?
Is there paid paternity leave?
Is there paid parental leave?
Is dismissal of pregnant workers prohibited?
Running a business
Can a woman legally sign a contract in the same way as a man?
Can a woman legally register a business in the same way as a man?
Can a woman legally open a bank account in the same way as a man?
Does the law prohibit discrimination by creditors based on sex or gender?
Managing assets
Do men and married women have equal ownership rights to property?
Do sons and daughters have equal rights to inherit assets from their parents?
Do female and male surviving spouses have equal rights to inherit assets?
Does the law grant spouses equal administrative authority over assets during the marriage?
Does the law provide for the valuation of nonmonetary contributions?
Getting a pension
Are the ages at which men and women can retire with full pension benefits equal?
Are the ages at which men and women can retire with partial pension benefits equal?
Is the mandatory retirement age for men and women equal?
Does the law establish explicit pension care credits for periods of childcare?

[i] Note: Each of these dimensions is coded and the overall women’s economic rights index is the percentage share of positive answers to the questions in these dimensions.

VariableObsMeanSDMinMax
Share of women among migrant pop.82544.7015.743.9184.55
(Share of women among migrant pop.)t−182545.1715.633.9184.55
Women’s economic rights (OECD)82550.6821.401.0794.83
Per capita income8253.976.59−62.08123.14
Growth in per capita income8253.125.53−910
Democracy (polity2)8250.120.3301
Major political violence dummy variable82558.7615.8516.1693.09
Distance to Germany (ln)8258.630.567.069.69
Visa requirement dummy variable8250.840.3701
Women’s economic rights (World Bank)1,06667.0216.5923.1396.88
Women’s civil society participation8240.710.160.060.95
Women’s political participation8240.870.160.231

[i] OECD, Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development.

Language: English
Accepted on: Aug 10, 2021
Published on: Oct 13, 2021
Published by: Sciendo
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
JEL:

© 2021 Eric Neumayer, Thomas Plümper, published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.