Gender Issues in International Trade

The aim of the paper is to show the different effects of trade on men and women. The author outlines the assumptions of basic trade models, concluding that these do not reflect reality and change when seen from a gender perspective. The author then provides an overview of trade and development, an overview of the relationship between trade and the macro economy, and a meso-analysis of employment by industry and sector. The main focus of the paper however is on the effect of international trade on consumption and production decisions within the household, as it is the decision-making processes within the household that is most relevant in an analysis of gender relations.