Self-employment and labour market dynamics of men and women in El Salvador and Nicaragua

We study the labour market dynamics of men and women in El Salvador and Nicaragua, focusing on the factors that help men and women move into an advantageous labour market state from an unfavourable state. We consider 'advantageous' states to be formal salaried employees and self-employed workers with a decent income or a successful and growing firm. Among our findings are that education and access to public services such as utilities promote transitions into advantageous states.