Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society Advance Access originally published online on February 11, 2009
Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society 2009 16(1):1-39; doi:10.1093/sp/jxp005
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The Politics of Women's Economic Independence
Correspondence: Email: ehuber{at}unc.edu
We identify the political conditions that shape the economic position of married/cohabiting women and of the economically most vulnerable group of women—single mothers. Specifically, we examine the determinants of reductions in single mothers' poverty rate due to taxes and transfers, and women's wages relative to spouses'/ partners' wages. The Luxembourg Income Study archive yields an unbalanced panel with 71 observations on 15 countries. The principal determinants of poverty reduction due to taxes and transfers are left government, constitutional veto points, and welfare generosity. The relative wage of women in couples is a function mainly of female labor force participation, part time work among women, and women's mobilization. In explaining the causal pathways to these outcomes, we highlight the interrelationships of welfare state, care, and labor market policies.