Effects of globalization on women in Pakistan

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse empirically the impact of trade openness on women's development in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachUsing cointegration analysis the paper empirically analyses the impact of trade openness on women's development in Pakistan applying annual time‐series data for the period 1981 to 2007.FindingsThe results show a significant positive long‐term relationship between trade openness and women's development in Pakistan. The results also show significant positive influence of foreign direct investment and private sector credit on women's development and significant negative effect of private investment on women's development in Pakistan. Significant negative coefficient of error term in error correction model indicates that convergence holds in the model.Research limitations/implicationsThere is need to know the transmission mechanisms or channel variables through which trade openness and globalization affect women's development in Pakistan. This is left as an exercise for future research.Practical implicationsSince openness positively affects women's development, government may continue the policy of trade reforms in the country. Further, government should continue to enhance the role of the private sector and financial deepening to integrate women in the development process in Pakistan.Social implicationsThe paper contributes to the literature on the subject and will initiate debate on the issue so that further research can be deepened in this area.Originality/valueThis paper is first study on the topic in Pakistan.