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Catalyst for Change: Empowering Women and Tackling Income Inequality

Author

Listed:
  • Mr. Christian Gonzales
  • Ms. Sonali Jain-Chandra
  • Ms. Kalpana Kochhar
  • Ms. Monique Newiak
  • Mr. Tlek Zeinullayev

Abstract

This study shows empirically that gender inequality and income inequality are strongly interlinked, even after controlling for standard drivers of income inequality. The study analyzes gender inequality by using and extending the United Nation’s Gender Inequality Index (GII) to cover two decades for almost 140 countries,. The main finding is that an increase in the GII from perfect gender equality to perfect inequality is associated with an almost 10 points higher net Gini coefficient. For advanced countries, with higher gender equity in opportunities, income inequality arises mainly through gender gaps in economic participation. For emerging market and developing countries, inequality of opportunity, in particular in education and health, appear to pose larger obstacles to income equality.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Christian Gonzales & Ms. Sonali Jain-Chandra & Ms. Kalpana Kochhar & Ms. Monique Newiak & Mr. Tlek Zeinullayev, 2015. "Catalyst for Change: Empowering Women and Tackling Income Inequality," IMF Staff Discussion Notes 2015/020, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfsdn:2015/020
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Tendai Zawaira & Matthew Clance & Carolyn Chisadza & Rangan Gupta, 2021. "Financial Inclusion and Gender Inequality in sub-Saharan Africa," Working Papers 202167, University of Pretoria, Department of Economics.
    2. Rosa Belén Castro Núñez & Pablo Bandeira & Rosa Santero-Sánchez, 2020. "Social Economy, Gender Equality at Work and the 2030 Agenda: Theory and Evidence from Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-19, June.
    3. Paul Segal, 2022. "Inequality Interactions: The Dynamics of Multidimensional Inequalities," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 53(5), pages 941-961, September.
    4. Crelis F. Rammelt & Joyeeta Gupta & Diana Liverman & Joeri Scholtens & Daniel Ciobanu & Jesse F. Abrams & Xuemei Bai & Lauren Gifford & Christopher Gordon & Margot Hurlbert & Cristina Y. A. Inoue & Li, 2023. "Impacts of meeting minimum access on critical earth systems amidst the Great Inequality," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(2), pages 212-221, February.
    5. Ozili, Peterson K, 2020. "Financial inclusion: a strong critique," MPRA Paper 101813, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Elia Elisa Cia Alves & Andrea Quirino Steiner, 2017. "Globalization, Technology and Female Empowerment: Breaking Rights or Connecting Opportunities?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 133(3), pages 859-877, September.
    7. Cong Wang & Amjad Naveed, 2021. "Can Women Empowerment Explain Cross-Country Differences in Inequality? A Global Perspective," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 158(2), pages 667-697, December.
    8. Tendai Zawaira & Manoel Bittencourt & Matthew W. Clance, 2018. "Gender Inequality and Marketisation Hypothesis in Sub-Saharan Africa," Working Papers 201876, University of Pretoria, Department of Economics.
    9. International Monetary Fund, 2016. "Denmark: 2016 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Denmark," IMF Staff Country Reports 2016/184, International Monetary Fund.
    10. Omika Bhalla Saluja & Priyanka Singh & Harit Kumar, 2023. "Barriers and interventions on the way to empower women through financial inclusion: a 2 decades systematic review (2000–2020)," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, December.
    11. Adem Elveren & Valentine M. Moghadam, 2019. "The impact of militarization on gender inequality and female labor force participation," Working Papers 1307, Economic Research Forum, revised 21 Aug 2019.
    12. Ms. Janet Gale Stotsky & Ms. Lisa L Kolovich & Suhaib Kebhaj, 2016. "Sub-Saharan Africa: A Survey of Gender Budgeting Efforts," IMF Working Papers 2016/152, International Monetary Fund.
    13. 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.
    14. Ms. Janet Gale Stotsky & Sakina Shibuya & Ms. Lisa L Kolovich & Suhaib Kebhaj, 2016. "Trends in Gender Equality and Women’s Advancement," IMF Working Papers 2016/021, International Monetary Fund.

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