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1. Impact of female peer composition on gender norm perceptions and skills formation in secondary school

Author:
Martina Querejeta
Publication Date:
03-2022
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
United Nations University
Abstract:
This paper examines peer effects on students’ gender norm perceptions and skills formation. I use a Uruguayan nationally representative survey of 9th grade students and exploit the quasi-random variation in the proportion of female peers across classes within schools for causal identification. Results show that a higher exposure to female peers in the class leads to more progressive gender norms. Furthermore, these effects in gender perceptions are driven mostly by male students. Female students are also impacted by peers’ sex composition and significantly reduce the time devoted to domestic work and improve mathematics scores when exposed to more female peers. No effects on language were found for either sex. Thus, exposure to female peers operates not only by reducing traditional gender perceptions but also by changing actual behaviour regarding housework and academic performance of female students. My results suggest that short peer interactions in secondary school contexts may have substantial effects on reducing gender stereotypes and change gendered behaviours among students.
Topic:
Developing World, Inequality, Peer Effects, and Gender Norms
Political Geography:
Global Focus

2. Heterogeneous informality in Costa Rica and Nicaragua

Author:
Enrique Alaniz, T. H. Gindling, Catherine Mata, and Diego Rojas
Publication Date:
03-2021
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
United Nations University
Abstract:
Informal work is often considered a place of employment for marginalized and vulnerable workers who have been rationed out of preferred formal work. However, informality can also be seen as a dynamic sector that budding entrepreneurs and those looking for flexible working conditions enter voluntarily. We use the methodology developed in Günther and Launov (2012) to test for the voluntary and involuntary nature of informal work in Nicaragua and Costa Rica, without making ad hoc assumptions about labour market segmentation and self-selection. We find evidence of heterogeneous informality in both Nicaragua and Costa Rica, with one informal sub-segment where most workers are voluntarily informal and another informal sub-segment where most workers are involuntarily informal. In Nicaragua, our results suggest that 44 per cent of wage employees are involuntarily informal, while 30 per cent of self-employed workers are involuntarily informal. In Costa Rica, our results suggest that 10 per cent of wage employees are involuntarily informal, and that 66 per cent of the self-employed are involuntarily informal.
Topic:
Labor Issues, Developing World, Informal Economy, and Workforce
Political Geography:
Central America, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica

3. Designing inclusive public finance policies in developing countries: Five key issues and solutions

Author:
Jukka Pirttilä and Finn Tarp
Publication Date:
07-2020
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
United Nations University
Abstract:
Taxation, and public sector matters more generally, are high on the agenda for the international development community. This is clearly reflected in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG17 stipulates the need for improving domestic resource mobilization directly, and most of the other SDGs cannot be achieved without adequate tax and spending policies.
Topic:
Developing World, Sustainable Development Goals, Tax Systems, Public Spending, and Inclusion
Political Geography:
Global Focus