Woman for the Economy

This study investigates the responsiveness of South Asian women to wage increment at the macro level and examines the South Asian women's sensitivity on compensating wage differentials in terms of economic empowerment of women in the South Asian region at the micro-level. In the macro level analysis, the model used annual time series data from four South Asian countries; Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh over the period of 2000 to 2017. Micro-level analysis of the study was done with the use of primary data gained through a questionnaire survey from the same sample countries and it covers the economic advancement and power and agency dimensions of women's economic empowerment. The women's wage compensation sensitivity index (WWCSI) constructed based on the survey results was used to build up the relationship between wage differential compensation and women's economic empowerment. According to the results of macro level analysis of this study, wage is a key determinant of female labor force participation. Findings of micro level analysis suggest that compensating wage differentials is a strong tool that can economically empower South Asian women.