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Online marketplaces are growing rapidly globally. They have the potential to significantly benefit women; however, these benefits are not guaranteed. A lack of information on the benefits of or how to participate in online marketplaces could mean womenʼs participation is at an inefficiently low level. Participation could also bring about unintended consequences. We introduce this special issue of Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies on the social and economic benefits of online marketplaces for women in Asia. In this introduction, we set the context for the special issue, then provide an overview of its seven papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the Philippinesʼ first nationally representative survey designed to characterise digital commercial and non‐commercial engagements, including the use of information and communications technology (ICT), the digital economy, and technology‐enabled activities, we investigate the presence of gendered disparities in online marketplaces. This is consistent with the spirit of a gender and development approach that aims for equitable outcomes between men and women. We verify whether the observed participation of women in online marketplaces results in higher online sales. To establish the determinants of participation in and incomes from online marketplaces, we use a Heckman estimator in cognisance of the non‐random choices people make when they enter online marketplaces. The negative selection indicates that those likely to sell have unobserved attributes negatively correlated with online income. Based on our modelʼs income predictions, men outperform women in online sales and hold the advantage, replicating a trend observed in traditional marketplaces. Results also highlight the importance of skills, digital awareness and habits, selling platforms, and ICT infrastructure. The paper also identifies potential initiatives for online marketplaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]