Public Employment and Women: The Impact of Argentina's Jefes Program on Female Heads of Poor Households

Levy Economics Institute Working Papers Series No. 519

41 Pages Posted: 13 Nov 2007

See all articles by Pavlina R. Tcherneva

Pavlina R. Tcherneva

Bard College - The Levy Economics Institute

L. Randall Wray

University of Missouri at Kansas City; Bard College - The Levy Economics Institute

Date Written: November 12, 2007

Abstract

In 2002, Argentina implemented a large-scale public employment program to deal with the latest economic crisis and the ensuing massive unemployment and poverty. The program, known as Plan Jefes, offered part-time work for unemployed heads of households, and yet more than 70 percent of the people who turned up for work were women. The present paper evaluates the operation of this program, its macroeconomic effects, and its impact on program participants. We report findings from our 2005 meetings with policymakers and visits to different project sites. We find that Jefes addresses many important community problems, is well received by participants, and serves the needs of women particularly well. Some of the benefits women report are working in mother-friendly jobs, getting needed training and education, helping the community, and finding dignity and empowerment through work.

Keywords: Argentina, Jefes y Jefas, Public Employment, Women

JEL Classification: E65, I38, J16, J68, O84

Suggested Citation

Tcherneva, Pavlina R. and Wray, L. Randall, Public Employment and Women: The Impact of Argentina's Jefes Program on Female Heads of Poor Households (November 12, 2007). Levy Economics Institute Working Papers Series No. 519, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1029661 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1029661

Pavlina R. Tcherneva (Contact Author)

Bard College - The Levy Economics Institute ( email )

30 Campus Road
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504-5000
United States

L. Randall Wray

University of Missouri at Kansas City ( email )

5100 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64110-2499
United States

Bard College - The Levy Economics Institute

Blithewood
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504-5000
United States

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