Gendered Differences in Household Engagement in Non-Farm Business Operations and Implications on Household Welfare: A Case of Rural and Urban Malawi
Mainstreaming gender issues in a demographically divided setting remains a critical component in policy frameworks and project designs. The focus of this study revolves around male- and female-headed households’ engagement in business operations, with an extended effect on household welfare. This st...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/13/12/643 |
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| author | Wisdom Richard Mgomezulu Javaid Ahmad Dar Beston B. Maonga |
| author_facet | Wisdom Richard Mgomezulu Javaid Ahmad Dar Beston B. Maonga |
| author_sort | Wisdom Richard Mgomezulu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mainstreaming gender issues in a demographically divided setting remains a critical component in policy frameworks and project designs. The focus of this study revolves around male- and female-headed households’ engagement in business operations, with an extended effect on household welfare. This study uses Malawi’s Integrated Household Survey 5, and answers two research questions: Are there any determinants of household engagement in non-farm businesses in rural and urban areas of Malawi? And is there any impact of gender differentials in household engagements in non-farm business operations on household welfare in rural and urban areas of Malawi? This study notes that male-managed non-farm SMEs had better profits compared with their female counterparts, as described by the Probit and the Oaxaca two-fold decomposition models. Mediation analysis was later used to establish the impact of the gender differentials using profits as the mediating variable. In general, females were found to be better off, but the benefits were insignificant in reducing the general rural–urban gap. This study recommends the provision of support towards credit structures for rural households and women-headed households; improved financial and business literacy for increased engagement in business operations and reduced poverty; and support towards advocacy of gender inclusion in economic empowerment approaches. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5ef19ae82a004b69a73a79b2e50f43a5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-5ef19ae82a004b69a73a79b2e50f43a52024-12-27T14:54:00ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602024-11-01131264310.3390/socsci13120643Gendered Differences in Household Engagement in Non-Farm Business Operations and Implications on Household Welfare: A Case of Rural and Urban MalawiWisdom Richard Mgomezulu0Javaid Ahmad Dar1Beston B. Maonga2Faculty of Economics and Law, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, Blantyre 311109, MalawiGovernment Degree College, Tangmarg 193402, Baramulla, IndiaCenter of Excellence in Agricultural Policy Analysis (ACE II-APA), Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lilongwe 207237, MalawiMainstreaming gender issues in a demographically divided setting remains a critical component in policy frameworks and project designs. The focus of this study revolves around male- and female-headed households’ engagement in business operations, with an extended effect on household welfare. This study uses Malawi’s Integrated Household Survey 5, and answers two research questions: Are there any determinants of household engagement in non-farm businesses in rural and urban areas of Malawi? And is there any impact of gender differentials in household engagements in non-farm business operations on household welfare in rural and urban areas of Malawi? This study notes that male-managed non-farm SMEs had better profits compared with their female counterparts, as described by the Probit and the Oaxaca two-fold decomposition models. Mediation analysis was later used to establish the impact of the gender differentials using profits as the mediating variable. In general, females were found to be better off, but the benefits were insignificant in reducing the general rural–urban gap. This study recommends the provision of support towards credit structures for rural households and women-headed households; improved financial and business literacy for increased engagement in business operations and reduced poverty; and support towards advocacy of gender inclusion in economic empowerment approaches.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/13/12/643gender differentialsbusiness enterprisesrural–urban divideOaxaca two-fold decompositionMalawi |
| spellingShingle | Wisdom Richard Mgomezulu Javaid Ahmad Dar Beston B. Maonga Gendered Differences in Household Engagement in Non-Farm Business Operations and Implications on Household Welfare: A Case of Rural and Urban Malawi Social Sciences gender differentials business enterprises rural–urban divide Oaxaca two-fold decomposition Malawi |
| title | Gendered Differences in Household Engagement in Non-Farm Business Operations and Implications on Household Welfare: A Case of Rural and Urban Malawi |
| title_full | Gendered Differences in Household Engagement in Non-Farm Business Operations and Implications on Household Welfare: A Case of Rural and Urban Malawi |
| title_fullStr | Gendered Differences in Household Engagement in Non-Farm Business Operations and Implications on Household Welfare: A Case of Rural and Urban Malawi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gendered Differences in Household Engagement in Non-Farm Business Operations and Implications on Household Welfare: A Case of Rural and Urban Malawi |
| title_short | Gendered Differences in Household Engagement in Non-Farm Business Operations and Implications on Household Welfare: A Case of Rural and Urban Malawi |
| title_sort | gendered differences in household engagement in non farm business operations and implications on household welfare a case of rural and urban malawi |
| topic | gender differentials business enterprises rural–urban divide Oaxaca two-fold decomposition Malawi |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/13/12/643 |
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