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Gender Equality and Economic Growth: Is it Equality of Opportunity or Equality of Outcomes?

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  • Aniruddha Mitra
  • James T. Bang
  • Arnab Biswas

Abstract

This article explores the impact of gender equality on economic growth. In particular, we focus on the multidimensional nature of gender equality with the object of identifying the relative salience of different aspects of equality. Using exploratory factor analysis on five measures of gender equality, we identify two distinct dimensions: equality of economic opportunities and equality in economic and political outcomes. Regression analysis conducted on an unbalanced panel of 101 countries taken over nonoverlapping five-year periods from 1990 to 2000 reveals that a standard deviation improvement in equality in economic opportunity increases growth by 1.3 percentage points and a corresponding improvement in participatory equality improves growth by an average of about 1.2 percentage points. However, this impact is contingent on a country's stage of development: while developing economies experience significant improvements in growth from greater equality in opportunity, developed societies see significant improvements resulting from greater equality in outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Aniruddha Mitra & James T. Bang & Arnab Biswas, 2015. "Gender Equality and Economic Growth: Is it Equality of Opportunity or Equality of Outcomes?," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(1), pages 110-135, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:femeco:v:21:y:2015:i:1:p:110-135
    DOI: 10.1080/13545701.2014.930163
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    3. 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.
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    5. Ms. Dalia S Hakura & Mr. Mumtaz Hussain & Ms. Monique Newiak & Mr. Vimal V Thakoor & Mr. Fan Yang, 2016. "Inequality, Gender Gaps and Economic Growth: Comparative Evidence for Sub-Saharan Africa," IMF Working Papers 2016/111, International Monetary Fund.
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    7. Ram, Harchand & Chakravorty, Swastika & Goli, Srinivas, 2022. "Does gender inequality affect economic development? An evidence based on analysis of cross-national panel data of 158 countries," SocArXiv 7svz4, Center for Open Science.
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    9. Ngepah, Nicholas & Saba, Charles Shaaba & Tinga, Cleide L.M., 2024. "Gender Inequality and Economic Growth in Developing Countries," Economia Internazionale / International Economics, Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato Agricoltura di Genova, vol. 77(3), pages 371-416.
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    11. Moataz, Aya & Richter, Christian, 2022. "The Impact of Female Tertiary Education and Climate Change on Economic Growth in Developing Countries," Land, Farm & Agribusiness Management Department 337137, Harper Adams University, Land, Farm & Agribusiness Management Department.
    12. Amit Nandan & Hrushikesh Mallick, 2020. "Does Gender Equality Matter for Regional Growth and Income Inequality? An Empirical Analysis for the Indian States," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(4), pages 439-469, May.
    13. Diachkova, Anna V. & Kontoboitseva, Anna E., 2022. "Economic Benefits of gender equality: comparing EU and BRICS countries," Economic Consultant, Roman I. Ostapenko, vol. 37(1), pages 4-15.
    14. Yoko Nakagaki, 2019. "Convex relationship between fertility and gender gap," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 39(3), pages 2014-2026.
    15. Talent Nesongano & Teresa Nyika & Albert Makochekanwa & Stanzia Moyo & Marvellous Mhloyi, 2022. "The Impact of Sexual Violence on Women's Earnings: The Case of Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe," Shanlax International Journal of Economics, Shanlax Journals, vol. 10(2), pages 47-63, March.
    16. Moataz, Aya & Richter, Christian, 2022. "The Impact of Female Tertiary Education and Climate Change on Economic Growth in Developing Countries," Agri-Tech Economics Papers 337137, Harper Adams University, Land, Farm & Agribusiness Management Department.
    17. Dahlum, Sirianne & Knutsen, Carl Henrik & Mechkova, Valeriya, 2022. "Women’s political empowerment and economic growth," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).

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