Domestic Service Sector Research Articles

Immigration, domestic labor, and earnings inequality among native-born women in the US

ABSTRACT The wage effects of immigration have been widely studied, yet much of the research has focused on competitive threats to low-skilled native-born men. In contrast, this paper applies a gender lens to explore possible complementary relationships between immigration-induced outsourcing of domestic work and the earnings of native-born women, while recognizing the classed and racialized nature of domestic labor. Empirically, this article examines subgroup variations in earnings among full-time employed native-born women by education and race/ethnicity in relation to the state share of immigrants in the domestic service sector. The analysis combines data from the 2012 American Community Survey with state-level work-family policy data collected for 2010, accounting for compositional differences and selection into the labor force. Likely due to increased availability of affordable domestic services, the results show a higher immigrant share is associated with greater earnings for native-born women overall. However, education and race/ethnicity moderate this association, indicating that highly educated non-Hispanic white women benefit more than other women because the labor process and outsourcing of household production are classed and racialized. Hence, states with a higher share of immigrants filling domestic services exhibit wage dispersion patterns that reinforce intersectional inequality among native-born women.

Employer–Domestic Worker Dynamic in Kolkata: From Maternalism to Transactionalism

Domestic workers used to be treated virtually as members of the family in South Asian contexts, with much evidence of various forms of exploitation. Presently, the increasing prevalence of formal patron–client dynamics among part-time domestic labourers in urban India takes specific hybrid forms that require further research. The article examines to what extent efforts to establish purely commercial arrangements in the domestic service sector may avoid traditional forms of exploitation. Or do more formal professional relationships still tend to benefit employers more, allowing them to assign additional tasks without offering corresponding extra benefits? The findings identify that establishing and maintaining purely professional relationships remains challenging in India due to deep-rooted ethical and cultural considerations and adaptability issues. Employers often unwittingly perpetuate traditional personalised domestic work settings. The article shows how both sides in this complex relationship struggle to identify and practice new modalities of fair interaction.

Trabajadoras domésticas remuneradas del Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires: experiencias de organización y reconocimiento mediadas por plataformas sociodigitales

The domestic service sector in Argentina is significant for many women workers. It is a highly feminized sector, closely tied to caregiving, and extremely diverse due to the variety of tasks, work modalities, and hours involved. Performed behind “closed doors”, this profession inherently faces challenges in unionization and collective organization. This article analyzes the experiences of organization and collective participation sustained through digital mediation by paid domestic workers. The study ethnographically examines two organizations in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires mediated by digital technologies: a small traditional union holding online assemblies via Facebook and a non-unionized workers’ WhatsApp group. The common thread is that engagement and participation were made possible through the use of socio-digital platforms. Several questions are explored through participant observation in these spaces: How do workers experience participation in collective spaces mediated by digital technologies? What are the scope and limitations of using these platforms in their daily lives and union participation? What other forms of political-union participation exist in virtual interstices? The creation of political-union networks has great potential as they can alter workers’ material conditions and defend their labor rights. They can also serve as spaces for recognition and self-valuation that transform how workers perceive themselves and their fellow workers as a collective.

Home work: Exploring the labor market effects of subsidizing domestic services

This paper analyzes subsidies for the domestic services sector, an increasingly popular policy to create employment opportunities for low-skilled workers. Using Belgian administrative data, a differences-in-differences approach, and a shift-share instrumental variable, we estimate the local effects of the policy in targeted industries as well as overall effects on the labor market. We find that domestic service subsidies can increase female employment in the subsidized industries as well as the overall employment rate. This increase in employment is primarily driven by an increase in (formal) labor market participation and, to a lesser extent, a reduction in the rate of participation in unemployment insurance and in other social welfare programs. We also find that these subsidies can lead to an increase in the rate of work incapacity, likely due to the fact they broaden the population that can access the social safety net.

Skilled emigration in a world of variety

Upgradation of export product quality and product diversification are two crucial determinants of the economic growth of developing countries. Both depend heavily on the endowment and quality of the skilled labor. However, one of the challenges developing countries face is the emigration of skilled labor. In this paper, we intend to explore the effect of skilled labor emigration on the export product quality, the number of varieties produced (extensive margin), and the amount of production (intensive margin). To do so, we provide a theoretical framework followed by empirical evidence. Results suggest that export product quality deteriorates with an outflow of skilled labor. Moreover, the number of varieties produced by the domestically specialized manufacturing or domestic service sectors falls but the total amount of production increases. This product diversification at the domestic level has a similar impact on export diversification when we have skilled emigration. The theoretical results have been examined empirically in this paper.

Sociocultural barriers to outsourcing housework: Unraveling the non‐use of domestic services

AbstractThe outsourcing of housework is broadly recognized as providing an impetus for increasing women's participation in the labor market and relieving the burdens of households with children and dual earners. Despite an objective need, demand for paid domestic services is low, even for households with sufficient financial resources. By drawing on a German survey of cohabiting couples aged between 30 and 60, we analyze households that have, to date, not used domestic services (N = 1479). Based on items about attitudes toward domestic services, we identify five distinct attitude profiles defined by diverse combinations and levels of sociocultural barriers to outsourcing housework, including gendered expectations, privacy concerns, aversion toward a servant culture, and trust and control issues. Our results establish that half of the sample exhibits scarcely any sociocultural aversion to the employment of domestic help. While some of these households report preferring to do housework within the family, households of higher social strata, in particular, express a need for external support, but are hindered by an insufficient supply of and access to appropriate paid domestic services. In contrast, the other half of the sample consists of subgroups of rejectors, revealing different levels of disapproval and normative‐moral profiles concerning outsourcing. Interestingly, complete rejectors are often found in low‐income households, indicating a strong connection between socioeconomic and sociocultural characteristics. The results highlight the potential for future developments within the domestic service sector to meet customers' normative and moral concerns.

Uncovering structural characteristics of virtual water flow network in India

India plays a pivotal role in global water resource management. Existing studies have not well characterized structural characteristics of virtual water flow network in India (e.g., critical sectors, transactions, and supply chain paths) in the context of global supply chains. This may impede the efficiency of policy measures on the mitigation of India's water shortage. This study identified critical transmission sectors, intersectoral transactions, supply chain paths, and communities of India's virtual water flow network, by combining the global environmentally extended multi-regional input-output model, structural path analysis, betweenness concept, and community detection method. Results show that in addition to domestic water-intensive sectors, the transmission sectors, intersectoral transactions, and supply chain paths associated with domestic service sectors (e.g., the “Hotel and restaurant services” and “Other land transportation services” sectors) and foreign sectors (mainly chemical industries, light industries, and services in large manufacturing entities) also play important roles in transmitting India's water uses. The importance of critical transmission sectors and transactions related to foreign regions (e.g., the rest of Asia-Pacific Region and China) have increased significantly during 1995–2020. Moreover, major communities mostly involve sectors from different regions. These findings can provide hotspots for India's water resource management in terms of improving the productivity and strengthening the interregional and intersectoral cooperation.

URGENSI RESESI EKONOMI DAN PENGARUHNYA TERHADAP STABILITAS SEKTOR JASA KEUANGAN

The aim of the research is to determine the development of the Indonesia financial services sector amidst the issue if the economic recession and to map strategies and policies that need to be improved through the implementation of structural reform policies in theIndonesian economy. The high dynamics of the global economy has resulted in adecline in intermediation performance in several national economics sectors. Meanwhile, the stability of the domestic financial services sector remains maintained with solid capital, a maintained risk profile and adequate liquidity. As a preventive measure in facing a recession to minimize the impact on society and encourage national economic performance through the implementation of structural reform policies in the Indonesian economy to maintain monetary stability and financial system stability as elements of continuity in supporting the planning and implementation of sustainable development programs through optimizing management owned natural resources, building reliability in the industrial sector, building resilience in the energy and food sectors, strengthening the economic financing structure,developing inclusive economic activities and strengthening development capital capabilities.

Exploring the Links Between Racial Exclusion and Human Trafficking of Migrant Workers in Qatar

Qatar has become a significant destination for migrant workers looking to escape unemployment in their home countries. However, highly active labour migration pathways create migration industries that exploit the increased supply of labour migrants, leading to trafficking. Human trafficking has been a longstanding concern in Qatar, especially with low-skilled migrant workers in the informal, domestic service and construction sectors. United Nations bodies and non-governamental organisations have criticised Qatar over the treatment of its migrant workforce, especially with concerns about trafficking for labour exploitation and forced labour. In addition to complaints of human trafficking, concerns have been raised concerning perceived racialised drivers of exploitation in Qatar. According to the former United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Ms Tendayi Achiume, Qatar battles with issues of structural racial discrimination concerning its migrant workforce. This article examines the links between race and the trafficking of migrant workers in Qatar.

Recognising the role of tradable service exports in the South African economy – An untapped resource?

ABSTRACT The contribution of services embedded in manufactured products in world trade has greatly increased since the 1980s. So too has services as a direct export. South Africa is an interesting case of an emerging economy that has struggled to diversify its export basket beyond basic commodities, despite having a robust domestic service sector. The article assesses the contribution of service exports to international trade in South Africa. Balance of payments data confirm that services trade is modest compared to merchandise trade. Exports in higher-value services show strong growth, although off a low base. Yet certain kinds of international linkages are not counted in official trade statistics. These service firms are also more productive, report higher output and usually pay better wages than those focused on the domestic market – as mirrored in studies of manufacturing exports. We advocate for further research and greater recognition of tradable service exports in trade policy.

Analyzing the Limitations of Agency and Rights in Migrant Women's Empowerment

Migrant women constitute a substantial and heterogeneous cohort within the worldwide populace. Individuals depart from their nations of birth in pursuit of enhanced prospects, frequently encountering distinctive obstacles and susceptibilities during the course of their migratory expedition. The abstract notion of a "migrant woman" encompasses the range of experiences, rights, and challenges encountered by this heterogeneous cohort of women. The analysis explores the structural determinants that influence the process of migration among individuals, including economic inequalities, gender expectations, and governmental regulations pertaining to migration. Additionally, it draws attention to the various overlapping forms of discrimination that people experience and which depend on things like gender, race, socioeconomic status, and immigration status. Migrant women actively participate in various industries, encompassing both low-skilled and informal labour, domestic service, healthcare, and agricultural sectors. The labour and contributions of individuals have far-reaching global implications, exerting influence on the economies of both the countries from which they originate and the countries where they are received. Nevertheless, these individuals frequently encounter economic exploitation, precarious labour circumstances, and restricted availability of rights and social safeguards. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the abstract notion of migrant women, it is imperative to acknowledge the wide range of experiences they encounter and the ways in which their identities intersect. Addressing the systemic issues and inequalities faced by individuals requires a collective effort of global cooperation, collaboration, and dialogue. This article aims to shed light on the empowerment of migrant women and the insufficiency of agencies and rights in achieving this goal.

Концепция экономики сферы услуг региона в условиях формирования новой ресурсной нормальности

The paper presents an analysis of modern theoretical works on the topic of building the concept of the economy of the service sector in modern conditions. The new resource normality, which is rapidly forming in the 20s of the XXI century, also requires the formation of a new methodology in many economic problems, including in the functioning of the economy of the service sector. This is what determines the relevance of this work. Within the framework of the study, the purpose of the study was chosen in the form of studying the format and specifics of the formation of the concept of the economy of the service sector in the conditions of the formation of a new resource normality. The materials for the research were works on the transformation of the economy of the service sector in conditions of resource instability. The methods of the study were selected retrospectively-analytical and comparative-country. The results of the study were the consideration of theoretical aspects based on the history, current state and prospects for the development of the domestic service sector in the conditions of strong disturbing negative factors of external and internal environments. The essence of the differences in the problems of the situations of 2020-21 and 2022- present is separately detailed. On the basis of the formed material, the author’s recommendations for the construction of a new methodology are made. In conclusion of this study, the general results of the work carried out are formulated, in particular, the generalizing results of the work on the analysis of modern theoretical works in the field of transformation of the economy of the service sector in the era of the formation of a new resource normality are presented. In addition, the section summarizes the conclusions / recommendations on the design of a generalizing concept of the economy of the service sector in the context of the formation of a new resource normality.

Productivity and real exchange rates for India: does Balassa-Samuelson effect explain?

PurposeThis study aims to explore the long-run equilibrium relationship between India’s real exchange rate and sectoral productivity trends using internationally comparable KLEMS databases on productivity for India, China, Euro area, the USA, the UK and Japan.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses pooled mean group estimations for panel data suggested by Pesaran et al. (1999). This method is chosen because of the presence of variables with different orders of integration.FindingsThe results find support for an “extended” Balassa–Samuelson (BS) hypothesis which allows labour market frictions that does not allow for wage equalisation between traded and non-traded sectors within a country. This mechanism continues to find some support when we separate out distribution sector that comprises wholesale and retail trade in the domestic services sector. The empirical evidence suggests that India’s real exchange rate is anchored to domestic fundamentals and is closely aligned to its fair value over a medium to long-time horizon.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, unlike the available literature, which uses aggregate per-capita income as proxy for a country’s productivity growth, this paper perhaps makes the first attempt to validate the BS hypothesis by accounting for productivity differential at the sectoral levels using KLEMS data across countries. Moreover, this study takes the country’s productivity improvement rather than using a basket of countries, a prevalent practice in the literature. While this paper uses India’s data, which witnessed a prolonged appreciation in its real effective exchange rate and rapid technological progress, the authors believe its findings and policy implications could be applicable to the similar emerging market economies.

The Changing Nature of the Domestic Service Sector in 19th-Century Istanbul

Istanbul, a power nexus in the Ottoman world, witnessed a proliferation of female child labor in domestic service over the course of the 19th century. This study shows that slave ownership and the recruitment of girl domestics were highly class-sensitive phenomena. This means that 19th-century Istanbul groups of middling economic means, who could not easily access the slave market, could recruit girl domestics with lower wages. The study claims that the rising presence of girl child labor in domestic service did not in itself bring about the immediate disappearance of domestic female slaves, as these two types of labor were not substitutes for each other in the labor market. The study also shows that a diversification in the zones supplying girls after the 1840s, as well as the rising demand for girl child labor, affected the wage levels of girls, which, however, does not appear to have had a noticeable impact on the fluctuations of prices for female slaves—both for Africans and Caucasians—and ownership.

The role of marketing in the development of the services sector in Ukraine

Features and tendencies of the development of the services sector in Ukraine are highlighted. The article determines that despite the socio-economic instability in the country, the development level of the domestic services sector remains quite high. The reasons for the positive dynamics of the services sector are clarified. The authors note that the main reason for the active development of the services sector is its “penetration” into almost all types of economic activity. The role of the services sector is described. The growing role of the services sector is proven to be based on the global trends and the influence of a number of factors. It is due to the influence of trends that the services sector is diversifying. In turn, different types of services require the use of excellent management approaches, with marketing occupying a key place among them. The role of marketing as a factor in the modern development of the services sector in Ukraine is demonstrated through the prism of determining the features and the need to use its key tools and methods. The main tasks of marketing in the services sector are presented and characterized. The article proves that the role of marketing in the services sector is to maximize the satisfaction and optimization of the interests of consumers and producers through the use of modern marketing tools. The authors emphasize that for the service sector, marketing is a process of developing and promoting services designed to meet the specific needs of target market segments. Knowledge and understanding of marketing in the services sector allow not only maximizing the profits of economic entities by providing services that are in demand but also identifying the ways and directions of profits redistribution to improve the quality of services to better satisfy consumers, gain competitive advantage, and increase future profits.

Dependency of domestic food sectors on imported inputs with Finland as a case study

The objective of this study is to examine the import dependency of domestic food and service sectors in Finland and produce indicators for measuring the import content of these sectors together with the import dependency of the inputs supplied into these sectors. Input–output analysis is utilised to provide the necessary information on the interdependencies and linkages between different industries for both goods and services in the Finnish economy. Primary agriculture, food processing, distribution and food service providers in Finland are heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels concerning energy and chemical inputs, including high reliance on imported supplementary protein feed for livestock production. However, most of the inputs supplied to the Finnish food and service sectors are domestic because only 20% of the total output is dependent on imported goods, services, and capital goods. The rate of self-sufficiency in food supply is high in Finland, but international trade is essential to provide the necessary energy and chemical inputs needed for food production along with livestock’s supplementary protein feed. Replacing fossil energy with sustainable renewable energy will reduce the dependence on Russia for energy supply and promoting human consumption of plant-based foods will reduce the demand for livestock feed.

How thick is your armour? Measuring economic resilience to shocks in global production networks

When economic shocks occur, whether at home or abroad, economic agents are expected to react to reduce the negative impact or amplify the positive effects. The ability of a country to contain economic losses can be defined as the resilience to economic shocks. Using the OECD’s annual Inter-Country Input–Output (ICIO) tables from 1995 to 2011, this paper investigates the relationship between changes in final demand and production structures for 61 economies. We found that, during economic downturns, countries that are able to prop up the economy through the domestic service sectors instead of domestic goods and foreign sectors are more resilient to negative shocks. Therefore, understanding the substitutability between goods and service sectors and between domestic and foreign sectors is crucial for gauging the potential risk to a country’s domestic economy from shocks abroad – whether economic, environmental, health-related or political.

Recruitment and Job-Seeking Mechanisms for Zimbabwean Women Care Workers in the Domestic Services Sector in South Africa

This article explores the migration of Zimbabwean women to South Africa to undertake various types of care work within the broader domestic work sector. Studies on care migration have largely discussed South to North migration flows. This is despite evidence showing that there are significant flows of migrants within countries in the Global South. This article seeks to understand the recruitment and job-seeking strategies employed by women in this South-South migration flow in light of their migrant status and processes related to their migration. It is based on a qualitative study and utilizes data collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with key informants from four domestic worker recruitment agencies and 23 care workers in two cities Johannesburg and Pretoria. The leading findings were that Zimbabwean migrant care workers in South Africa faced exploitative working conditions as the majority of them were undocumented or irregular. They faced challenges in obtaining valid work visas and therefore, migrant care workers could not seek employment through formal channels such as recruitment agencies. They used informal channels such as social networks and the market. The article discusses the implications of using such strategies with regards to the subsequent working conditions and the protection of care workers rights.

The development of service sector in the conditions of digital transformation of the national economy

The subject of this research is the development of the domestic service sector within the framework of digitalization of economic space. The goal consists in determination of the processes of dependence of the development of service sector in the context of digital transformation of the economy of the Russian Federation at the current stage of development of the national economy. The author sets the following tasks: to analyze the key economic indicators of the development of service sector in the Russian Federation; to reveal the peculiarities of digital transformation of business in this sphere; to determine the development patterns in service sector under the influence of digital processes. As a result, the author identifies the patterns and trends in the development of service sector under the influence of digital processes – increase in activity ratio and decrease in staff size. The acquired materials can be used for promoting the development of service sector on the macro- and micro-levels, which defines the value of this research. The scientific novelty consists in the formed matrix of interrelation between the development of separate branches of service sector and the processes of business digitalization. The article reveals heterogeneity in the sphere of digitalization of business processes in the service sector of the Russian Federation, as well as the trend of relative increase of the efficiency of enterprises in the industries characterized by high digital activity.

PENGARUH TATA LETAK GUDANG TERHADAP KELANCARAN PRODUKTIVITAS BONGKAR MUAT DI GUDANG PT. NCT

PT. NCT is a company engaged in domestic goods delivery service sector. As for the problem happened to PT. NCT is the placement of the finished items in the warehouse is still not in order and not match the place, this results the item confused with other item, and the hand pallet passageway and forklift became narrow, and complicated the storage items storage and taking process. The independent in this research was warehouse layout, meanwhile dependent variable was unloading productivity. This research used qualitative method. The population in this research was the warehouse employee of PT. NCT with samples of 30 respondents, with sampling technique used saturated sample technique. The data collecting technique used was questionnaire, each respondent was given 20 questions, then data processed with SPSS statistics analysis. Based on the result of this research, shows that there is significant and positive effect between variable of warehouse layout on variable of unloading productivity of 36,8%, meanwhile the other 63,8% explained by other variable out of the variable used in this research. Based on the result of calculation of simple linear regression test, obtained result of regression equation of Y = 5,917 + 0,874X. Meanwhile on the result of hypothesis test shows the value of t count > t table (4,035 > 2,048). This means H0 is rejected and H1 is accepted, or there are effects between Warehouse Layout on Unloading Productivity.