IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/rgscpp/v15y2023i6p1299-1316.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A partial least squares analysis of gender inequality, occupational segregation, and economic growth: Evidence from Sub‐Saharan Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Wycliffe Obwori Alwago

Abstract

The biggest barrier to an egalitarian Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) appears to be deeply ingrained structural obstacles and gender imbalances. The significant prevalence of gender inequities, which have both structural and economic ramifications, must be addressed if SSA is committed to achieving the Africa 2063 Agenda (the Africa we want) and Sustainable Development Agenda 2030: gender equity and equality, and economic development. Using partial least squares simultaneous equation modeling (PLS‐SEM), this study examines the effects of gender inequality and occupational segregation on economic growth in Sub‐Saharan Africa. The explanatory power of the structural path model indicated that 17.3% of the variations in latent endogenous variable economic growth in SSA are explained by gender inequality and occupational segregation. This is evidence that gender inequality and occupational segregation account for a significant portion of economic growth in the SSA region. The results of a bootstrapping simulation indicate that, in SSA nations, the direct impact of gender inequality on economic growth is insignificant (β = 0.068, p > 0.05) while occupational segregation, macroeconomic policies, and globalization have a significant impact. However, the indirect effects of both gender inequality (β = −0.048, p 0,05), mientras que la segregación ocupacional, las políticas macroeconómicas y la globalización tienen un impacto significativo. Sin embargo, los efectos indirectos tanto de la desigualdad de género (β = ‐0,048, p 0.05)、その一方で職業分離、マクロ経済政策、グローバリゼーションの影響は有意である。しかし、ジェンダー不平等(β=−0.048、 p

Suggested Citation

  • Wycliffe Obwori Alwago, 2023. "A partial least squares analysis of gender inequality, occupational segregation, and economic growth: Evidence from Sub‐Saharan Africa," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(6), pages 1299-1316, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:rgscpp:v:15:y:2023:i:6:p:1299-1316
    DOI: 10.1111/rsp3.12677
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/rsp3.12677
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/rsp3.12677?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rendall, Michelle, 2013. "Structural Change in Developing Countries: Has it Decreased Gender Inequality?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 1-16.
    2. Francine D. Blau & Lawrence M. Kahn, 2013. "Female Labor Supply: Why Is the United States Falling Behind?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 103(3), pages 251-256, May.
    3. Kevin Stainback & Soyoung Kwon, 2012. "Female Leaders, Organizational Power, and Sex Segregation," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 639(1), pages 217-235, January.
    4. Ibrahim A. Adekunle & Toluwani G. Kalejaiye & Ayomide, O. Ogunade & Sina J. Ogede & Caleb O. Soyemi, 2020. "Engendering Macroeconomic Policy for Gender Equality in sub-Saharan Africa," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 20/095, African Governance and Development Institute..
    5. Galor, Oded & Weil, David N, 1996. "The Gender Gap, Fertility, and Growth," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 86(3), pages 374-387, June.
    6. Martin Watts, 2003. "The Evolution of Occupational Gender Segregation in Australia: Measurement and Interpretation," Australian Journal of Labour Economics (AJLE), Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School, vol. 6(4), pages 631-655, December.
    7. Matthias Doepke & Michèle Tertilt, 2009. "Women's Liberation: What's in It for Men?," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 124(4), pages 1541-1591.
    8. Mina Baliamoune-Lutz, 2007. "Globalisation and Gender Inequality: Is Africa Different?," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 16(2), pages 301-348, March.
    9. Stephanie Seguino & Caren Grown, 2006. "Gender equity and globalization: macroeconomic policy for developing countries," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 18(8), pages 1081-1104.
    10. Elson, Diane & Cagatay, Nilufer, 2000. "The Social Content of Macroeconomic Policies," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 28(7), pages 1347-1364, July.
    11. San Vicente Portes Luis & Atal Vidya & Juárez-Torres Miriam, 2019. "Women's Empowerment: Aggregate Effects on Savings and Wealth," Working Papers 2019-21, Banco de México.
    12. Khayria Karoui & Rochdi Feki, 2018. "The Effect of Gender Inequality on Economic Development: Case of African Countries," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 9(1), pages 294-300, March.
    13. David Cuberes & Marc Teignier, 2014. "Gender Inequality And Economic Growth: A Critical Review," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(2), pages 260-276, March.
    14. Stephan Klasen & Francesca Lamanna, 2009. "The Impact of Gender Inequality in Education and Employment on Economic Growth: New Evidence for a Panel of Countries," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(3), pages 91-132.
    15. Henrik Kleven & Camille Landais, 2017. "Gender Inequality and Economic Development: Fertility, Education and Norms," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 84(334), pages 180-209, April.
    16. Ibrahim A. Adekunle & Toluwani G. Kalejaiye & Ayomide, O. Ogunade & Sina J. Ogede & Caleb O. Soyemi, 2020. "Engendering Macroeconomic Policy for Gender Equality in sub-Saharan Africa," Research Africa Network Working Papers 20/095, Research Africa Network (RAN).
    17. Ibrahim A. Adekunle & Toluwani G. Kalejaiye & Ayomide O. Ogunade & Sina J. Ogede & Caleb O. Soyemi, 2020. "Engendering Macroeconomic Policy for Gender Equality in sub-Saharan Africa," Working Papers of The Association for Promoting Women in Research and Development in Africa (ASPROWORDA). 20/009, The Association for Promoting Women in Research and Development in Africa (ASPROWORDA).
    18. Amaia Altuzarra & Catalina Gálvez-Gálvez & Ana González-Flores, 2021. "Is Gender Inequality a Barrier to Economic Growth? A Panel Data Analysis of Developing Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-21, January.
    19. William J Scarborough, 2020. "Occupational gender segregation and economic growth in U.S. local labor markets, 1980 through 2010," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(1), pages 1-21, January.
    20. Jörg Henseler, 2010. "On the convergence of the partial least squares path modeling algorithm," Computational Statistics, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 107-120, March.
    21. Gunseli Berik & Yana van der Meulen Rodgers & Stephanie Seguino, 2009. "Feminist Economics of Inequality, Development, and Growth," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(3), pages 1-33.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Vo, Thang T. & Truong, Thiet-Ha, 2023. "Gender division of household workforce in Vietnam: Role of international trade and fertility," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1696-1718.
    2. Alicia Girón & Amirreza Kazemikhasragh, 2022. "Gender Equality and Economic Growth in Asia and Africa: Empirical Analysis of Developing and Least Developed Countries," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(2), pages 1433-1443, June.
    3. Audi, Marc & Ali, Amjad, 2016. "Gender Gap and Trade Liberalization: An Analysis of some selected SAARC countries," MPRA Paper 83520, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Nguyen, Canh Phuc, 2021. "Gender equality and economic complexity," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 45(4).
    5. Izaskun Zuazu, 2024. "Reviewing feminist macroeconomics for the twenty-first century," Review of Evolutionary Political Economy, Springer, vol. 5(2), pages 271-299, September.
    6. Sheng Xu & Michael Asiedu & Nana Adwoa Anokye Effah, 2023. "Inclusive Finance, Gender Inequality, and Sustainable Economic Growth in Africa," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(4), pages 4866-4902, December.
    7. Amaia Altuzarra & Catalina Gálvez-Gálvez & Ana González-Flores, 2021. "Is Gender Inequality a Barrier to Economic Growth? A Panel Data Analysis of Developing Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-21, January.
    8. Annalisa Frigo & Èric Roca Fernández, 2022. "Roots of gender equality: the persistent effect of beguinages on attitudes toward women," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 27(1), pages 91-148, March.
    9. Khayria Karoui & Rochdi Feki, 2018. "The Effect of Gender Inequality on Economic Development: Case of African Countries," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 9(1), pages 294-300, March.
    10. Ferretti, Fabrizio & Mariani, Michele, 2017. "Gender Discrimination, Gender Disparities in Obesity and Human Development," MPRA Paper 77728, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. David Cuberes & Marc Teignier, 2012. "Gender Gaps in the Labor Market and Aggregate Productivity," Working Papers 2012017, The University of Sheffield, Department of Economics.
    12. Klaus Prettner & Holger Strulik, 2017. "Gender equity and the escape from poverty," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 69(1), pages 55-74.
    13. Faustine PERRIN, 2022. "Can the historical gender gap index deepen our understanding of economic development?," JODE - Journal of Demographic Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 88(3), pages 379-417, September.
    14. Romina Kazandjian & Ms. Lisa L Kolovich & Ms. Kalpana Kochhar & Ms. Monique Newiak, 2016. "Gender Equality and Economic Diversification," IMF Working Papers 2016/140, International Monetary Fund.
    15. Bataka, Hodabalo, 2024. "Global value chains participation and gender inequalities in Sub-Saharan Africa: Importance of women education," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    16. Laura Cabeza-García & Esther B. Del Brio & Mery Luz Oscanoa-Victorio, 2018. "Gender Factors and Inclusive Economic Growth: The Silent Revolution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, January.
    17. Valerie Onyia Babatope & Jude Okoye & Ibrahim Ayoade Adekunle & Johnson Fejoh, 2023. "Work burnout and organisational commitment of medical professionals," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-13, December.
    18. Rulia Akhtar & Muhammad Mehedi Masud & Nusrat Jafrin & Sharifah Muhairah Shahabudin, 2023. "Economic growth, gender inequality, openness of trade, and female labour force participation: a nonlinear ARDL approach," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1725-1752, June.
    19. Youssouf Merouani & Faustine Perrin, 2022. "Gender and the long-run development process. A survey of the literature [Rethinking age heaping: A cautionary tale from nineteenth-century Italy]," European Review of Economic History, European Historical Economics Society, vol. 26(4), pages 612-641.
    20. Ryo Sakamoto & Miki Kohara, 2025. "Why gender norms matter," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 92(365), pages 150-172, January.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:rgscpp:v:15:y:2023:i:6:p:1299-1316. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1757-7802 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.