Trade aiberalization, agricultural productivity and poverty in the mediterranean region

Abstract EN

This study evaluates the impact of trade liberalization and reductions in trade barriers on gender wage inequality in Egypt by using recent Egypt Labor Market Panel Survey data (ELMPS 06) and comparing two years representing an early stage (1998) and an advanced stage in trade liberalization (2006).

The analysis focuses on private sector workers, and compares workers in tradable sectors (sectors in direct competition with the foreign trade) with workers in non-tradable sectors (not in direct competition with foreign goods).

Not only is wage discrimination observed regardless of sector of employment, but deterioration is also detected.

Results also indicate that tradable sectors experience proportionately higher levels of wage differences between men and women than non-tradable sectors.