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PROMOTING EVIDENCE-BASED POLICY MAKING
FOR GENDER EQUALITY IN PAPUA NEW GUINEAHOUSEHOLD INCOME AND EXPENDITURE SURVEY 2009-2010
Dr. Alice Louise Kassens
Roanoke College
Prepared for the 2015 ASSA/AEA Annual
Meeting
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
86% of population lives in rural sector
Diverse geographically (islands, coastal, mountains)
Over 850 languages
Transportation limited by mountainous terrain; many walk to market, health care (travel for women can be dangerous)
12% of households are female-headed, which are smaller than male-headed (5.5 vs. 6.6 persons), less educated, fewer earning prospects
Liquefied natural gas from the Highlands a potential export (Australia)
RGDP growth 5.6% in 2013 (World Bank)
HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND EXPENDITURE SURVEY
Sample = 22,718 individuals, 4,081
households; some areas inaccessible
Face-to-face interviews
Several sections of questionnaire
1. Head of household only
2. All adults in HH (15 yrs. of age or older)
3. Subsample of adults
Weighted means
Follow-up to previous surveyPapua New Guinea's capital, Port Moresby. Photograph: Rocky Roe/AFP/Getty Images
ISSUES TO ADDRESS FOR ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Explore how men and women differ in a
variety of measures of socioeconomic status
and well-being
Wide range by region, urban-status, gender
of head of household
Inequalities by gender and wealth impact
1. Ability to care for families
2. Macroeconomic development
This presentation addresses two areas
1. Health
2. Disputes and violence Source: Child Fund Australia
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Malaria most cited illness in the past thirty
days, particularly amongst the youngest
and oldest female adult age groups.
Highest incidence of malaria was reported
in the Southern, Island, and Momase
Regions while the lowest incidence was
reported in the Highlands
The only gender differential was in the Island
Region where males reported substantially
higher incidence than women.
Public hospitals are the most common locus
of care0.000
0.010
0.020
0.030
0.040
0.050
0.060
0.070
15-17 18-21 22-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64
Inc
ide
nc
e r
ate
Malaria
Male Female
SUBSTANCE USE
Betel nut and tobacco most used
substances in PNG
Men are more likely to consume betel nut,
tobacco, and alcohol than women
Gender use gap is smallest with betel nut
Substance use peaks between 25 and 34
years of age for both men and women and
is greatest amongst the poor
Source: Seattle Times
SUBSTANCE USE
HEALTH EXPENDITURES
Expenditures on health care and per capita
expenditures on health care increase with
income
Male headed households in upper quintile
spend more on health care than their
female peers
Per capita health expenditures as a
percentage of total expenditures are
significantly higher in metro regions and
urban areas, particularly for male-headed
households.
DISPUTES AND VIOLENCE
High rates of violence against women in
PNG
Domestic violence accounts for 90% of
casualty hospital attendance by women
Considered justifiable by many (men and
women)
This attitude for men and women declines
as incomes and education levels increase, is
more common in rural areas
Migration from poor rural areas contributes
to increased land disputes, violence
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Metro Southern Highlands Momase Islands Rural Urban
Sh
are
be
lieve
hu
sba
nd
ju
stifie
d (
%)
Neglecting the children
Male Female
CRIME
Men and women have similar views
regarding the level of crime across region
and urban status
Particularly fearful of alcohol/drug related
crimes
Crime significantly curtails the activities of
women
Exacerbated by lacking rural resources and
migration to high cost urban areas
Violence against women reduces their
freedom
Few laws against public space abuse
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Metro Southern Highlands Momase Islands Rural Urban
Ke
ep
s fr
om
wa
lkin
g t
o m
ark
et
(%)
Crime keeps from: Walking to market
Male Female
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
Report has identified the following policy reform priorities that will promote gender equality and improve welfare:
1. Better infrastructure and increased access to
public transportation
2. Universal enrollment in secondary schooling
3. Support for employment opportunities outside of
subsistence agriculture
4. Universal access to free or low-cost health care
5. Gender-equitable land law reforms
6. Stronger efforts to reduce crime and domestic
violence Source: seekingalpha.com
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS: HEALTH CARE
Improved education, access to medical
goods and services, and quality of
practitioners are key to reducing and
eradicating pervasive communicable
diseases (ex. Malaria)
As LE increases, need to be prepared to
handle additional demand
Improved economic success of mothers will
likely reduce the incidence of malnutrition
and its consequences amongst poor
children
The relative low cost of betel nut likely
contributes to its popularity amongst lower income groups in PNG Excise taxes on the
product could reduce use, although
enforcement is likely difficult
As incomes rise from the growing natural
gas industry, officials should plan for
combating increased alcohol use and the
resulting increase in crime
Rigorous public health campaigns to
educate users and potential users about the
dangers of substance use may be more
expensive, but more effective
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS: CRIME/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Economic progress will be suppressed until
the level of criminal activity, domestic
violence, and land disputes are reduced
Need effective system for land dispute
resolution
Increase the number of women in
leadership positions, starting with local level
and moving up
Literature on and analysis of the costs of
gender based violence in developing
countries is growing, but much work is still
needed
Data on the issue should come from a
variety of stakeholders including residents,
business owners, police and court records,
hospital and health care facility records,
and observational studies
CONTACT INFORMATION
Alice Louise Kassens
Roanoke College
@RnningEconomist
Yana van der Meulen Rodgers
Rutgers University
