This chapter looks at the impact of gender inequality on economic growth as
reflected in trade performance in Tanzania. It provides a statistical analysis
of the participation of, and outcomes for, women in export activities. Unlike
most of the previous studies, which have focused analysis on small firms to
explain the lower participation of women in exporting, this study analyzes
large firms. We look at the participation of women in export activities in an
entrepreneurial context, rather than as wage workers, and assess how female
ownership is associated with the determinants of firms’ export performance.
The analysis is based primarily on the Annual Survey of Industrial Production
(ASIP 2008) in Tanzania, which contains firm-level data disaggregated by
gender on 729 industrial establishments, 110 of which are exporters.
To provide some context, the chapter first examines the key features and
trends in trade policy performance in Tanzania. It then focuses on gender in
trade policy by reviewing female participation in trade activities in Tanzania.
We find that while trade policy documents include gender-differentiated
regulations, in practice, there is little evidence of any programs that leverage
regulations to address gender inequalities related to trade activities. In
addition, the literature review finds that despite a plethora of opportunities
for women’s increased participation in trade activities, barriers to female
participation persist in labor-intensive export-oriented activities, such as the
cut flowers and textiles trade.