Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Pubali Chakraborty
Author-Name-First: Pubali
Author-Name-Last: Chakraborty
Author-Email: pchakraborty@bates.edu
Author-Workplace-Name: Bates College, USA
Author-Name: Kanika Mahajan
Author-Name-First: Kanika
Author-Name-Last: Mahajan
Author-Email: kanika.mahajan@ashoka.edu.in
Author-Workplace-Name: Ashoka University
Title: Scaling Up to Decrease the Divide: Firm Size and Female Employment
Abstract: Using firm and individual-level data, we provide reduced-form evidence suggesting a positive relationship between relative female employment and firm size. We then use a difference-in-difference strategy exploiting a natural experiment in Indian labor law amendments that raised firm size thresholds for regulatory compliance. We document a resulting 4.2% increase in female worker share in the treated states, along with a 5% and 15% rise in employment and output, respectively. Larger firms providing amenities like maternity benefits, transport, and paid leave, valued more by women, likely drive these results. Our findings suggest that policies promoting firm growth can enhance female employment.
length: 88
Creation-Date: 20230831
Revision-Date: 20250205
Publication-Status: 
File-URL:https://dp.ashoka.edu.in/ash/wpaper/paper103_0.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf 
Number: 103
Keywords: Employment
Keywords: Firm Size
Keywords: Gender
Keywords: labor laws
Handle: RePEc:ash:wpaper:103