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The evolution of the human capital of women

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  • Audra Bowlus
  • Chris Robinson

Abstract

The labour market attachment of females has increased dramatically over the last half century, converging to a pattern similar to that of males. Human capital theory predicts an associated increase in human capital investment by females and a convergence in the life‐cycle human capital investment profiles of males and females. This paper explores wage‐based and job skills‐based approaches to measuring the increased supply of efficiency units of human capital by females over the last four decades. Results suggest that the magnitude of the contribution of the increased human capital of women to post‐war economic growth is substantially underestimated by conventional methods of measuring human capital and labour inputs. A complete picture of the evolution of the human capital of women requires new approaches to measuring their human capital. L’évolution du capital humain des femmes. Au cours des cinquante dernières années, l’activité des femmes sur le marché du travail a considérablement augmenté, convergeant vers un modèle similaire à celui des hommes. Corrélativement, la théorie du capital humain anticipe deux phénomènes : une augmentation de l’investissement des femmes dans le capital humain ainsi qu’une convergence des profils d’investissement dans le capital humain par les deux sexes tout au long de la vie. Afin d’évaluer la hausse de productivité du capital humain des femmes au cours des quarante dernières années, cet article explore les approches basées à la fois sur le salaire et les compétences professionnelles. Les résultats suggèrent que l’ampleur de la hausse du capital humain des femmes dans l’économie d’après‐guerre a été sensiblement sous‐évaluée par les méthodes de calcul traditionnelles, à la fois du capital humain et du facteur travail. Ainsi, pour mesurer l’évolution du capital humain des femmes de façon plus globale, de nouvelles approches sont nécessaires.

Suggested Citation

  • Audra Bowlus & Chris Robinson, 2020. "The evolution of the human capital of women," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 53(1), pages 12-42, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:canjec:v:53:y:2020:i:1:p:12-42
    DOI: 10.1111/caje.12424
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    1. Singh, Vikkram & Shirazi, Homayoun & Turetken, Jessica, 2022. "COVID-19 and gender disparities: Labour market outcomes," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(3), pages 206-217.

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