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The Historical Gender Gap Index: A Longitudinal and Spatial Assessment of Sweden, 1870-1990

Karlsson, Tobias LU ; Kok, Joris and Perrin, Faustine LU (2021) In Lund Papers in Economic History
Abstract
Our knowledge of the long-run evolution of gender equality is limited. We currently lack
quantitative indicators capable of capturing the variations on and changes in the individual
dimensions of gender equality. This paper seeks to assess the long-run evolution of gender roles
and relations in Sweden. To this end, we build a database with quantitative indicators of gender
equality. These indicators allow us to construct a Historical Gender Gap Index (HGGI), which
is used to describe and analyze the evolution of gender equality in Sweden during a phase
characterized by industrialization, urbanization and demographic transition. We find that after
a period of stagnation, Sweden from the 1940s onwards made... (More)
Our knowledge of the long-run evolution of gender equality is limited. We currently lack
quantitative indicators capable of capturing the variations on and changes in the individual
dimensions of gender equality. This paper seeks to assess the long-run evolution of gender roles
and relations in Sweden. To this end, we build a database with quantitative indicators of gender
equality. These indicators allow us to construct a Historical Gender Gap Index (HGGI), which
is used to describe and analyze the evolution of gender equality in Sweden during a phase
characterized by industrialization, urbanization and demographic transition. We find that after
a period of stagnation, Sweden from the 1940s onwards made significant progress in closing
the gender gap to reach the high level of gender equality that it is now famous for. All counties
have made substantial improvements in closing the gap over time, although some counties have
been quicker than others. Our investigation reveals the existence of a convergence pattern
between counties. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Working paper/Preprint
publication status
published
subject
keywords
gender equality, index, development process, Sweden, J16, N33, O11
in
Lund Papers in Economic History
issue
2021:217
pages
54 pages
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
18d838fd-f7c9-4b33-88e2-5881069ea921
date added to LUP
2021-02-02 09:21:54
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:00:26
@misc{18d838fd-f7c9-4b33-88e2-5881069ea921,
  abstract     = {{Our knowledge of the long-run evolution of gender equality is limited. We currently lack<br/>quantitative indicators capable of capturing the variations on and changes in the individual<br/>dimensions of gender equality. This paper seeks to assess the long-run evolution of gender roles<br/>and relations in Sweden. To this end, we build a database with quantitative indicators of gender<br/>equality. These indicators allow us to construct a Historical Gender Gap Index (HGGI), which<br/>is used to describe and analyze the evolution of gender equality in Sweden during a phase<br/>characterized by industrialization, urbanization and demographic transition. We find that after<br/>a period of stagnation, Sweden from the 1940s onwards made significant progress in closing<br/>the gender gap to reach the high level of gender equality that it is now famous for. All counties<br/>have made substantial improvements in closing the gap over time, although some counties have<br/>been quicker than others. Our investigation reveals the existence of a convergence pattern<br/>between counties.}},
  author       = {{Karlsson, Tobias and Kok, Joris and Perrin, Faustine}},
  keywords     = {{gender equality; index; development process; Sweden; J16; N33; O11}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Working Paper}},
  number       = {{2021:217}},
  series       = {{Lund Papers in Economic History}},
  title        = {{The Historical Gender Gap Index: A Longitudinal and Spatial Assessment of Sweden, 1870-1990}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/90755547/LUPEH_217.pdf}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}