Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 08/2008

Gender and Ethnicity in Post-Conflict Kosovo

Sumon Kumar Bhaumik, Ira N. Gang, Myeong-Su Yun

April 2008

United Nations University

Abstract

The paper examines the comparative economic wellbeing of female- and male-headed households among Serbs and Albanians in post-conflict Kosovo. Evidence from the living standards measurement study (LSMS) household survey, 2001, shows that Serb households, both those headed by women and men, are worse off than Albanians households. We find that female-headed households do not generally suffer more than male-headed households, but there is substantial variation among ethnic groups. While Albanian female-headed households are marginally better-off than Albanian male-headed households, Serb female-headed households have the lowest standard of living.