Work

The market-reach of pandemics: Evidence from female workers in Ethiopia’s ready-made garment industry

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: In a globalized world, pandemics transmit impacts through markets. We document employment changes, coping strategies, and welfare of garment factory workers in Ethiopia's largest industrial park during the early stages of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic. We field a phone survey of female workers during a two month period in which cases are rapidly rising globally, but not locally. Our data suggest significant changes in employment, high levels of migration away from urban areas to rural areas if women are no longer working, and high levels of food insecurity. These findings compel a research and policy focus on documenting and mitigating the market-reach of pandemics on low-income workers at the margins.

Source: World Development

DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105179

Authors: Christian Johannes Meyer, Morgan Hardy, Marc Witte, Gisella Kagy, Eyoual Demeke

Institutions: University of Oxford, New York University Abu Dhabi, IZA - Institute of Labor Economics, Vassar College, World Bank

Language: English

Topic: Software Engineering and Design Patterns

Subfield: Development

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, No poverty, Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities, Gender equality

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,600