Introduction to the OCDE Analysis on Gender and International Trade in Latin America
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCDE) released a comparative analysis on gender and international trade for the leading economies in Latin America: Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Costa Rica. The study reveals that while a company led by women has an export participation chance of around 10%, for men it increases to 14%.
Export Participation Disparity in Mexico
In Mexico, a more export-oriented economy, women-led companies participate in exports at 8%, compared to 19% for men-led firms. This disparity is significant, as export-oriented businesses are typically more modern and dynamic, leaving women economically disadvantaged when underrepresented in these sectors.
Smaller Exporting Companies Led by Women
The study also finds that even among exporting companies led by women, they are smaller in size compared to those led by men. This further supports the presence of gender barriers in that sector and highlights the need for policies to support women exporters.
Unique Challenges in Mexico
Low Proportion of Women in Corporate Boards
Mexico stands out for having only 10% of women in corporate boards, a lower proportion than other analyzed countries: Colombia (20%), Brazil (19%), and Peru (18%). Canada has 35%, and the United States have 30%. Women are clearly underrepresented in leadership positions within Mexican businesses compared to other continental nations.
High Proportion of Unpaid Work for Women
Mexican women dedicate 40% of their work time to unpaid activities, significantly more than Mexican men who dedicate only 10%. In Argentina and Costa Rica, men dedicate around 18% and women less than 35%, respectively. The substantial amount of hours Mexican women invest in unpaid work is a clear disadvantage when engaging in business activities, reinforcing the necessity for improved care systems to reduce economic gender disparities.
Key Questions and Answers
- What does the OCDE analysis reveal about gender and international trade in Latin America? The study shows that women-led companies have lower export participation rates compared to men-led firms across the analyzed countries, with Mexico being an exception due to its export-oriented economy.
- Why are women underrepresented in leadership positions within Mexican businesses? There is a need for legislation in Mexico to establish representation quotas in publicly traded companies and corporate representation bodies, as well as mandatory reporting on gender-based salary and leadership disparities.
- How does the high proportion of unpaid work for Mexican women impact their business activities? The significant amount of time Mexican women dedicate to unpaid work puts them at a disadvantage when engaging in business activities, emphasizing the necessity for better care systems to reduce economic gender disparities.
