RESPONSES TO RECESSION AND RESTRUCTURING - EMPLOYMENT TRENDS IN THE SAO-PAULO METROPOLITAN REGION, 1979-87

It is often argued that during recession women and children are put in to the labour market in order to maintain household incomes. They are forced into low-paid jobs in the informal sector. Evidence from Sao Pa ulo suggests a different picture. During recession young people withdr ew from the labour market. Adult female participation rates did increa se, but more slowly than the long-term trend. Women's entry into the l abour market during recession was not accompanied by a deterioration i n employment conditions or a widening of male and female wage differen tials. When the economy recovered, it was adult males who did not rega in the losses in formal sector employment sustained in the recession.