ECONOMIC POSITION OF WOMEN UNDER CONDITIONS OF UNCERTAINTY: A COMPARATIVE STATISTICAL OVERVIEW OF SERBIA AND BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Faculty of Economics in Subotica, University of Novi Sad, Subotica, Serbia
Serbia


Abstract

This paper analyses the economic security of women in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina under conditions of uncertainty through a comparative statistical analysis of selected labour market indicators and demographic trends. The aim of the research is to examine differences in the position of women in the two countries based on the activity rate, employment rate, unemployment rate, and total fertility rate. The research assumes that women in Bosnia and Herzegovina are in a less favourable position than women in Serbia, both in terms of labour market participation and within the broader framework of economic security. The analysis relies on secondary data drawn from international statistical databases for the period 2007–2024, while fertility data are available for 2007–2023. The paper applies descriptive statistics, comparative analysis, and an analysis of changes in selected indicators over time. The results show that women in Bosnia and Herzegovina were in a less favourable position throughout the observed period, as reflected in lower activity and employment rates, higher unemployment, and more pronounced gender gaps. Fertility, included as a supplementary indicator of economic security, was also somewhat lower in Bosnia and Herzegovina, although both countries remained within the zone of low fertility. The findings confirm that women’s economic security depends not only on their labour market position, but also on broader living conditions, including the ability to plan a family and achieve long-term social stability

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References


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