Socioeconomic and cultural drivers of women’s formal work in rural Ghana

We study socioeconomic indicators of female labour force participation in off-farm formal employment a subsistence agriculture setting northern Ghana, where new commercial farm provides positive demand shock for low-skilled labour. use set quantitative and qualitative data examining determinants participation, the social effects arising from it, influence on decision-making power their households. In line with other micro-studies, we find that education is not driver jobs. Women wealthier households those young children have significantly lower probability starting work. Polygamy male dominance reduce women’s participation. who earn income are strengthened intra-household position can spend more money themselves.