WOMEN'S LABOR MARKET PARTICIPATION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS
Introduction
- Women’s labor market participation has profound economic and social consequences.
- Claudia Goldin, the 2022 Economics Nobel laureate, has made significant contributions to understanding women’s labor market outcomes and gender disparities.
- Globally, however, female labor force participation remains relatively low, hindering women’s economic growth and capabilities.
- This editorial analysis discusses the key findings and issues related to women’s labor market participation.
Diminished Labor Force Participation
- The worldwide female labor force participation rate stood at 47.3% in 2022, with a persistent decline in developing nations, such as India.
- This decline affects women’s potential and economic progress. Economist Goldin observed a U-shaped pattern in adult women’s LFPR during economic growth, attributed to changes in production and income effects.
Marriage’s Impact on Labor Participation
- Marriage often leads to decreased LFPR among women due to various factors, including limited education, increased family obligations, and societal disapproval of women’s employment.
- The institution of marriage amplifies domestic responsibilities and cultural barriers to workforce participation.
Factors Influencing Women’s Labor Force Participation
- Multiple factors influence women’s labor force participation, including religious affiliations, caste, geographic location, household wealth, and societal norms.
- These factors tend to impact married women more than unmarried ones.
Challenges Women Face in Returning to Work After Marriage
- Women who want to resume their careers post-marriage seek flexible employment near their residences.
- Gender-asymmetrical costs, societal constraints, and income inequality affect career choices, age at marriage, and fertility decisions.
- Socioeconomic status also plays a role, with lower-strata women more likely to engage in the labor market due to economic constraints.
Impact of Marital Status on Labor Market Outcomes
- Data from India’s NSSO Periodic Labour Force Survey reveals that marriage significantly influences women’s labor market outcomes.
- There has been a 5% decrease in the FLFPR among married women aged 25 to 49 from 2004-05 to 2022-23, with the most pronounced decline in the 25-29 age group.
- Married women exhibit lower LFPR compared to unmarried counterparts.
Proposed Solutions
- The editorial analysis highlights the influence of social and cultural factors on women’s labor market decisions, emphasizing the need to address married women’s low labor market participation in India.
- Adequate day-care services are essential to incentivize female labor force participation. Government initiatives, such as the National Creche Scheme, need to be expanded in both public and private sectors.
- Work settings that prioritize women’s needs, secure transportation options, and part-time job opportunities can encourage greater female labor market participation in India.
Conclusion
women’s labor market participation remains a critical issue with far-reaching economic and societal consequences. Efforts to empower women economically and promote their labor force participation are essential for achieving gender equality and fostering economic growth.
URBAN HEALTH CHALLENGES IN INDIA: A PARADIGM SHIFT IN PUBLIC HEALTH
Introduction
- India’s urban population is projected to reach 675 million by 2035, making it the second-largest urban population in the world.
- Despite their role in India’s economic rise, cities are failing to meet health, environmental, and equity targets for their inhabitants.
- This editorial analysis delves into the complex health risks faced by urban Indians and explores the need for a new approach to address these challenges.
Urban Health Risks
- Multi-scalar Health Risks: Urban Indians face a myriad of health risks, including the highest levels of air and noise pollution globally, limited green spaces, inadequate access to sidewalks and parks, outdated transportation systems contributing to pollution, poor nutrition options, and unprecedented exposure to toxic chemicals. These factors compound the risks of heart disease and diabetes, collectively known as cardiometabolic diseases, particularly when coupled with physical inactivity.
- Significance of Physical Activity: Physical activity stands out as the most effective deterrent against cardiometabolic diseases. Unfortunately, Indian cities are grappling with an epidemic of historic proportions in these disorders, highlighting the urgency of promoting physical activity.
Transforming Provisioning Systems for Public Health
- Seven Key Provisioning Systems: Globally, seven key provisioning systems – food, energy, mobility/transportation, housing, green infrastructure, water, and waste management – profoundly affect human health, well-being, equity, and sustainability. Dysfunctional provisioning systems are responsible for over 90% of global water consumption and CO2 emissions and an estimated 19 million premature deaths annually.
- Social Inequalities and Health Risks: In India, the design of urban provisioning systems, many of which are remnants of colonial legacies, exacerbates social inequalities based on class, race, age, migration, and disability. This translates into significant disparities in health risks and outcomes.
A New Narrative for Urban Health
- High-Level Policy Frameworks: To improve health and well-being in cities, India must adopt a new narrative, in line with global policy frameworks like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the New Urban Agenda, and the Health in All Policies approach.
Double or Triple-Duty Actions
- Clean Energy and Electric Mobility: Ongoing investments in clean energy and electric mobility present a unique opportunity to improve health by reducing air pollution.
However, their impact on health outcomes may be limited without concomitant changes in other provisioning systems, such as food, mobility, and green infrastructure.
- Multi-Benefit Interventions: Small changes in provisioning systems can have significant catalytic effects on health and productivity, serving as double or triple-duty interventions.
For example, promoting safe walking and biking lanes not only enhances physical activity but also reduces the risk from air pollution. Regular physical exercise is known to mitigate the impact of risk factors like poor diets and obesity, making exercise a bulwark against heart disease.
Holistic Urban Policy
- Economic and Health Impact: Clean energy transition models in the transportation sector primarily focus on reducing air pollution.
However, combining this transition with active transport options like walking paths and biking lanes can provide additional health and economic benefits, making such investments more economically viable.
- Dietary Policies: Policies promoting healthier diets can reduce the prevalence of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease while enhancing economic productivity.
Conclusion
India’s urban areas face formidable health challenges driven by various factors, including pollution, inadequate physical activity, and unhealthy diets.
To tackle these issues effectively, India must prioritize public health in urban planning, incorporate multi-benefit interventions, and embrace a holistic approach to provisioning systems.
A concerted effort is necessary to combat cardiovascular disease, obesity, and Type 2 diabetes and to create healthier and more sustainable cities in India.
