The Determinants of Female Labor Force Participation in Pakistan: An Instrumental Variable Approach

Abstract

This working paper analyzes the determinants of female labor force participation (FLFP) across rural and urban Pakistan. It provides evidence supporting various aspects of the female labor supply by utilizing crosssectional data on females between the ages of 15 and 50 drawn from household data collected as part of the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey for 2006/07. Potential explanatory variables that determine FLFP include (i) females’ own characteristics, (ii) household characteristics, and (iii) female empowerment indicators.