Economic Growth and Evolution of Gender Equality

Damjanovic, T.; Selvaretnam, G.

Abstract

We present an evolutionary growth model where the degree of gender equality evolves towards the value maximising social output. It follows that a woman’s bar- gaining power should depend positively on her relative productivity. When an economy is less developed, physical strength plays a key role in production and thus, total out- put is greater when the man gets a larger share. As society develops and accumulates physical capital and human capital, the woman becomes relatively more productive, which drives the output maximising social norm towards gender equality. Empirical results support these predictions of the theoretical model. Simulations show that in the long run, an economy with gender equality can outperform an economy where gender balance of power maximises social output, although in the short run, it can lag behind.

Citation

Damjanovic, T., & Selvaretnam, G. (2020). Economic Growth and Evolution of Gender Equality. Manchester School, 88(1), 1-36. https://doi.org/10.1111/manc.12274

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 20, 2019
• Online Publication Date: May 8, 2019
• Publication Date: Jan 31, 2020
• Deposit Date: May 7, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: May 8, 2021
• Journal: Manchester School
• Print ISSN: 1463-6786
• Electronic ISSN: 1467-9957
• Publisher: University of Manchester
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 88
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 1-36
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/manc.12274
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1296882