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The Role of Historical Resource Constraints in Modern Gender Inequality: A Cross-Country Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Hazarika, Gautam

    (The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley)

  • Jha, Chandan Kumar

    (Louisiana State University)

  • Sarangi, Sudipta

    (Louisiana State University)

Abstract

We posit that historical resource scarcities played a role in the emergence of gender norms inimical to women that persist to this day. This thesis is supported by our finding that nations’ historical resource endowments, as measured by the historical availability of arable land, are statistically significantly negatively related to their present levels of gender inequality, as gauged by the United Nations Development Programme’s Gender Inequality Index.

Suggested Citation

  • Hazarika, Gautam & Jha, Chandan Kumar & Sarangi, Sudipta, 2014. "The Role of Historical Resource Constraints in Modern Gender Inequality: A Cross-Country Analysis," IZA Discussion Papers 8374, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
  • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp8374
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    5. G. Hazarika, 2000. "Gender Differences in Children's Nutrition and Access to Health Care in Pakistan," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(1), pages 73-92, October.
    6. Nathan Nunn & Leonard Wantchekon, 2011. "The Slave Trade and the Origins of Mistrust in Africa," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 101(7), pages 3221-3252, December.
    7. Timur Kuran, 2011. "The Long Divergence: How Islamic Law Held Back the Middle East," Economics Books, Princeton University Press, edition 1, number 9273.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    scarcity; culture; history; gender;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N90 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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