University of Wah, Wah Cantt and Research Officer Planning Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan.
Based on the Pakistan Integrated Household Survey PIHS (1998–99) data, the present study identifies the impact of husbands’ occupation besides other important social, economic and demographic factors on the participation decision in economic activity of wives in Pakistan. The sample size comprises 14255 wives currently living with their husbands, excluding widows and divorced cases. The study uses a probit model in order to empirically identify the effect of husbands’ occupation and various social, economic and demographic factors like education, age, family structure and size, number of children and other household workers on the participation of wives. Professional husbands and those belonging to agriculture are likely to determine wives participation to a greater extent. In addition, education level, joint family system, presence of small children and customs in the province of Punjab are strong determinants of wives participation decisions on their involvement in economic activities.
