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Gender Inequality and Economic Growth in Developing Countries

Author

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  • NGEPAH, NICHOLAS

    (School of Economics, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa)

  • SABA, CHARLES SHAABA

    (School of Economics, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa)

  • TINGA, CLEIDE L.M.

    (School of Economics, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between gender inequality and economic growth in developing countries. The study uses a panel of countries for the period 1960 to 2019, aggregated in 5-year intervals. The system generalised method of moments (system GMM) model and the panel autoregressive distributive lag model are used to evaluate the relationship between gender inequality in human capital and economic growth across developing countries. A gender inequality index was modelled using the disparities in human capital, with the inclusion of maternal mortality. The findings of this study suggest that gender inequality accounted for a significant variability in GDP per capita. The empirical results illustrate that the gender inequality negatively impacts economic growth and that the gender gap needs to be narrowed to achieve higher levels of economic growth for low-income countries. Disuguaglianze di genere e crescita economica nei paesi in via di sviluppo Il fine di questo articolo è identificare la relazione tra disuguaglianze di genere e crescita economica nei paesi in via di sviluppo. Viene utilizzato un panel di paesi nel periodo 1960-2019, in intervalli aggregati di 5 anni. I modelli utilizzati per valutare la relazione tra disuguaglianze di genere nel capitale umano e la crescita economica nei paesi in via di sviluppo sono il system GMM e il panel ARDL. È stato creato un indice di disuguaglianza di genere usando le disparità nel capitale umano, inclusa la mortalità materna. I risultati suggeriscono che le disuguaglianze di genere rappresentano una variabile significativa del PIL pro capite. Secondo i risultati empirici tali disuguaglianze hanno un impatto negativo sulla crescita ed è necessario diminuire il divario di genere per raggiungere livelli maggiori di crescita economica nei paesi a basso reddito.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:ecoint:0976
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gender Inequality; Economic Growth; Developing Countries; Fragile State;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B54 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Feminist Economics
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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