The Feminisation U, cultural norms, and the plough

Abstract The Feminisation U describes the tendency of female labour force participation (FLFP) to first decline and then rise in process economic development. While is often presented as a ‘stylised fact’ development, empirical support for it mixed. Here, we show that cultural norms inherited from ancestral plough use exert moderating influence on shape U. Specifically, find significantly U-shaped path FLFP only countries whose ancestors employed plough-based agricultural technology. U-curve becomes progressively more muted share country's practiced agriculture decreases. In with little or no legacy historical use, time effectively flat. This pattern results robust correcting dynamic panel bias, instrumenting per-capita income, controlling other potential effect modifiers. Our findings are compatible nuanced reading main theoretical models proposed literature explain