Gender Analysis of the Reopening After COVID-19 Lockdowns: Evidence from Cambodia
Abstract/Summary
We quantify the effects of reopening economic activities after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on the lives and livelihoods of the workers in the garment, footwear, and travel goods sector in Cambodia. We employ fixed-effects difference-in-differences and quantile regression analyses using a panel survey of 2,000 workers interviewed by phone in June 2021 and June 2022. The impacts are disaggregated by gender. We find that lives and livelihoods of female and male workers have improved since the reopening, albeit not out of the woods and to the pre-pandemic level. The reopening has had positive and significant effects on wage and non-wage earnings of the workers, and female respondents have benefited as much as their male counterparts. Household consumption and remittances have increased, whereas the incidence of food insecurity has lowered. While the COVID-19 infection rate has subsided and been less fatal, and the probability of another lockdown remains low, new challenges have emerged, particularly the rising price of oil and food. We suggest interventions that could help lessen the negative impacts.Related Publications
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