Conceptualizing the labor force: The underestimation of women's economic activities

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Abstract
This paper analyzes the concepts underlying existing labor force statistics and their built‐in tendency to underestimate women's contribution to production. It argues that available statistics must be used with great caution and that differences in participation rates across countries can be misleading. The paper criticizes conventional definitions of economic activity and of labor force concepts; it suggests that use value production should be viewed as part of the economic realm and that labor engaged in it should be accounted for as ‘active labour’. The main objective of this argument is to counteract the ideological undervaluation of women's work, and to present a concept of economic activity related to human welfare rather than to economic growth and accumulation.

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