Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Tez Türü: Yüksek Lisans
Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi, İşletme Fakültesi, İktisat Bölümü, Türkiye
Tez Danışmanı: Yusuf Balcı
Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2025
Tezin Dili: İngilizce
Desteklendiği Program: Diğer
Özet:
Labor
force participation in the Western Balkans remains uneven, with persistent
gender gaps and significant variation across countries. This study investigates
the determinants of labor market activity among men and women in Albania,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and
Kosovo, highlighting structural, demographic, and cultural factors that shape
engagement. Using data from the European Values Survey (EVS) and applying
binary logistic regression models, both pooled and country-specific, the
analysis examines the effects of gender, age, education, marital status,
household composition, parental background, economic conditions, and gender
role attitudes on the likelihood of being active in the labor market. Results
show that men are consistently more likely to participate than women, with
female inactivity strongly associated with unpaid caregiving responsibilities
and traditional gender norms. Labor market participation generally follows an inverted-U
trajectory, peaking in mid-adulthood (ages 36–43) and declining thereafter.
Education increases the probability of activity, though more strongly for men,
while household factors such as the presence of children and spouse activity
exert heterogeneous effects across countries. Parental employment at age of 14
of the respondents also influences adult activity, highlighting
intergenerational effects. Country-specific analysis reveals that cultural
norms, labor market structures, and social policies mediate these patterns,
with Kosovo and Albania showing particularly low female engagement and Hungary
exhibiting a narrower gender gap. The findings underscore the need for policies
that expand access to childcare, promote flexible work arrangements, and address
normative constraints to enhance labor force participation and reduce gender
disparities. Overall, labor market outcomes in the region reflect the interplay
of demographic, structural, and cultural factors, emphasizing the importance of
tailored, context-sensitive interventions.
AUTHORS:
KEYWORDS:
labor
force participation, Western Balkans, gender gap, household responsibilities,
education, cultural norms