Gender in Bolivian Production : Reducing Differences in Formality and Productivity of Firms

A main goal of this study is to determine the variables responsible for the lower formality of women-owned businesses. The companion study (the World Bank 2007a) shows that Bolivia's informal sector is the largest in Latin America by many definitions and measures. It also provides a rationale for promoting formality given the many negative effects of a high rate of informality. These negative effects include a lower growth potential as informal firms tend to be less productive owing to limited access to physical, financial, and human capital, and a smaller scale of operations; negative fiscal impacts as informal firms "free ride" on services provided with fiscal resources; and negative social externalities, including weaker rule of law and public institutions, increased corruption, and weakened ability to enforce contracts. A second goal of this study is to identify gender-based productivity constraints that hinder the growth of female-owned businesses. First, author's analysis of the impact of formality on profitability shows that the gains of formalization for most female-owned businesses increase as the firms grow. Second, author's find that the smaller scale of operation of female-owned firms is one of the main causes of gender-based differences in productivity and profitability. However, most of the differences between male and female-owned firms diminish or disappear as firms grow.

Bibliographic Details

Main Author:	World Bank
Language:	English
Published:	World Bank 2009-07-01
Subjects:	ACCESS TO CAPITAL, ACCESS TO CREDIT, ACCESS TO FINANCE, ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SERVICES, ACCESS TO LOANS, AGE OF RETIREMENT, AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES, BANK CREDIT, BANK LOAN, BANK LOANS, BANKS, BENEFICIARIES, BORROWING, BRIBES, BUSINESS ACTIVITY, BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS, BUSINESS LOANS, BUSINESS OWNER, BUSINESS OWNERS, BUSINESS PLANS, CALCULATION, CALCULATIONS, CAPACITY OF WOMEN, CAPITAL STOCK, CARE FOR CHILDREN, CHILD CARE, COLLATERAL, CONTRIBUTIONS, CORRUPTION, COST OF CREDIT, CREDIT ASSOCIATIONS, CREDIT INSTITUTIONS, CREDIT PROGRAMS, CRIME, CURRENCY, CUSTOM, CUSTOMER BASE, CYCLE OF POVERTY, DAY-CARE, DEBT, DEVELOPMENT BANK, DISABILITY, DISABILITY BENEFITS, DISCRIMINATION, DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN, DISMISSAL, DISMISSALS, DIVORCED WOMEN, EARNING CAPACITY, EARNINGS, ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, ECONOMIC COOPERATION, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, ECONOMIC GROWTH, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, ECONOMIC POLICY, ECONOMIES OF SCALE, EDUCATION OF WOMEN, EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, EDUCATIONAL LEVELS, EMPLOYEE, EMPLOYER, EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, EMPLOYMENT STATUS, ENROLLMENT, ENTREPRENEURIAL ABILITY, ENVIRONMENT FOR WOMEN, EXCLUSION, EXPENDITURE, FAMILIES, FAMILY INCOME, FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES, FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES OF WOMEN, FEMALE, FEMALE BUSINESS, FEMALE EMPLOYEES, FEMALE EMPLOYMENT, FEMALE ENTERPRISE, FEMALE ENTERPRISES, FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS, FEMALE LABOR, FEMALE LABOR FORCE, FEMALE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION, FEMALE POPULATION, FEMALE-OWNED BUSINESS, FEMALE-OWNED BUSINESSES, FEMALES, FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, FINANCIAL LITERACY, FINANCIAL SECTOR, FINANCIAL SERVICES, FINANCIAL SUPPORT, FINANCING MECHANISMS, FISCAL RESOURCES, FORMAL BANKING, FORMAL BANKS, FORMAL CREDIT, FORMAL EDUCATION, FORMAL SAVINGS, FORMAL WORKFORCE, GENDER, GENDER ACTION, GENDER ANALYSIS, GENDER DIFFERENCES, GENDER GAP, GENDER GAPS, GENDER ROLES, GENDER STEREOTYPES, GENDER WAGE GAPS, GIRLS, GROWTH PLANS, HANDICRAFTS, HEALTH INSURANCE, HOME, HOMES, HOUSEHOLD BUDGET, HOUSEHOLD CHORES, HOUSEHOLD INCOME, HOUSEHOLD SPENDING, HOUSEHOLD WELFARE, HOUSEHOLDS, HUMAN CAPITAL, HUSBAND, HUSBANDS, INCOME LEVELS, INDIGENOUS WOMEN, INEQUALITIES, INFORMAL SAVING, INFORMAL SECTOR, INFORMAL SECTORS, INFORMAL WORKER, INFORMATION SYSTEM, INPUT PRICES, INSURANCE, INTEREST RATES, INTERNATIONAL BANK, JOB SECURITY, LABOR FORCE, LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION, LABOR FORCES, LABOR LAW, LABOR LAWS, LABOR MARKET, LABOR MARKETS, LABOUR ORGANIZATION, LACK OF ACCESS, LACK OF INFORMATION, LARGE FIRMS, LEGAL STATUS, LEVEL OF EDUCATION, LIMITED ACCESS, LOAN APPLICATIONS, MARITAL STATUS, MARKET CONSTRAINTS, MARKETING, MARKETING CAMPAIGNS, MARRIED MEN, MARRIED WOMEN, MATERNITY BENEFITS, MATERNITY LEAVE, MICRO CREDIT, MICRO ENTERPRISES, MICRO-CREDIT, MICRO-ENTERPRISE, MICRO-FINANCE, MICRO-FINANCE INSTITUTIONS, MICROCREDIT, MICROFINANCE, MINISTRY OF WOMEN, MOBILITY FOR WOMEN, NEW MARKETS, NUTRITION, OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN, PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN, PENSION, PENSION FUNDS, PENSION SYSTEM, PHYSICAL CAPITAL, PRIVATIZATION, PROBABILITY, PRODUCTIVE CAPITAL, PRODUCTIVITY, PROFITABILITY, PROPERTY RIGHTS, PUBLIC INVESTMENT, RATES OF RETURN, REAL ESTATE, RECEIPTS, REPAYMENT, RULE OF LAW, SALARIED WORKERS, SALARY, SAVINGS, SAVINGS ACCOUNT, SELF-EMPLOYMENT, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, SENIOR, SINGLE WOMAN, SINGLE WOMEN, SMALL ENTERPRISE, SMALL ENTERPRISES, SMALL LOANS, SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS, SOCIAL SECURITY, SOURCES OF FINANCE, START-UP, START-UPS, SUPPLY OF CREDIT, TERM CONTRACTS, TERMINATION, UNDP, UNITED NATIONS, UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, UNMARRIED WOMEN, URBAN AREAS, USAID, WAGE, WAGE GAP, WAGES, WIFE, WILL, WOMAN, WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS, WORK HOURS, WORKING CAPITAL, WORKING MOTHERS, YEARS OF SERVICE, YOUNG CHILDREN,
Online Access:	http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000334955_20090827043440 https://hdl.handle.net/10986/2669
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