Do multinationals transfer culture? Evidence on female employment in China

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Tang, Heiwai; Zhang, Yifan
• 署名单位: University of Hong Kong; Johns Hopkins University; Leibniz Association; Ifo Institut; Chinese University of Hong Kong
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-1996
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jinteco.2021.103518
• 发表日期: 2021
• 关键词: Cultural spillovers; Gender inequality; FDI; misallocation; CHINA

摘要

We study the global diffusion of culture through multinationals, focusing on gender norms. Using data on manufacturing firms in China from 2004 to 2007, we find that foreign affiliates from countries with a more gender-equal culture tend to employ proportionally more women and appoint more female managers. They also generate cultural spillovers, as we find that do-mestic firms' female labor share increases with the prevalence of foreign affiliates in the same industry or city. Based on a multi-sector model that accounts for firm heterogeneity in produc-tivity, gender bias, and learning, we perform counterfactual exercises. By hypothetically elimi-nating firms' gender biases, we observe a 5% increase in China's aggregate total factor productivity, 19% of which is due to spillovers from foreign affiliates. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.