Gender Norms and Labour Supply in Kazakhstan: Evidence from the World Value Survey

Abstract

In this study, we model the labour supply in Kazakhstan with the data collected by the World Value Survey conducted in 2011 with a focus on female labour market decisions assuming that, unlike the male labour supply, female labour supply depends not only on economic but also on social, cultural, and other factors. We found out that women face substantial opportunity costs for participation in the labour market, and economic inactivity likely serves as a form of hidden unemployment for them. They are also more susceptible to prejudice over gender roles than men. However, we did not reveal differences across geographical regions and ethnic groups. Economic and social factors appear to be more important in labour decisions in Kazakhstan than cultural ones.