Impact of Trade Liberalization on Employment in West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU): A Gender Approach

The main objective of this paper is to assess the impact of trade liberalization on employment in West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) through a gender approach. We apply generalized least squares (GLS) estimation techniques with both random and fixed effects on panel data covering the period of 2000-2017. Due to the lack of data, Guinea-Bissau is not part of our analysis. The results show that, while trade liberalization does not explain women’s employment patterns, it rather contributes in job destruction for men in the WAEMU. In conclusion, the impact of trade liberalization of employment is not gender neutral. Rather, it varies depending on the sex of people. In terms of policy implications, this study calls policy makers to setting up, better negotiating or renegotiating trade agreements and implementing trade policies that are more inclusive and beneficial particularly to the population. This could be done by taking into consideration women’s employment particularities in the union, enhancing productive capacities of men, reducing and eliminating inequalities related to people gender and sex.