Author: Barbara Knapp Herz

Publisher:

Published: 1991

Total Pages: 306

ISBN-13:

This report examines ways of improving women's productivity and education and the consequences for development in Peru. It finds that women account for about 39 percent of family income in Peru. They carry the main responsibilty for child care and heavily influence family decisions on children's education and family size. Improving opportunities for women can thus be a means to foster economic and social development as well as an end in itself. The main way to expand women's opportunities is through human capital investments, notably education beyond the primary level. This will increase women's earning capacity and broaden their labor force participation -- and thereby promote economic growth, family welfare, and slower population growth. The report's findings are based on econometric analysis of the household survey data from the Peruvian Living Standards Survey (PLSS) conducted in 1985-86. The PLSS is a national probability sample of 5,100 families and 26,000 individuals.