Can the historical gender gap index deepen our understanding of economic development?
(2022) In Journal of demographic economics 88(3). p.379-417- Abstract
- Knowledge of the long relationship between gender equality and economic growth is hampered by the lack of information and resources on the various dimensions of gender equality. This paper is a first attempt to assess the size of the gender gap and investigate its relationship with economic growth from a historical perspective. Exploiting a unique census-based dataset of 86 French counties in the mid-nineteenth century, I construct a historical gender gap index measuring the size of the gap between men and women in three critical areas: economic opportunities, educational attainment, and health. A county comparison allows me to identify the strengths and weaknesses of French counties in closing the gender gap. I find that France can be... (More)
- Knowledge of the long relationship between gender equality and economic growth is hampered by the lack of information and resources on the various dimensions of gender equality. This paper is a first attempt to assess the size of the gender gap and investigate its relationship with economic growth from a historical perspective. Exploiting a unique census-based dataset of 86 French counties in the mid-nineteenth century, I construct a historical gender gap index measuring the size of the gap between men and women in three critical areas: economic opportunities, educational attainment, and health. A county comparison allows me to identify the strengths and weaknesses of French counties in closing the gender gap. I find that France can be divided into two main areas, the North and the South. In particular, the Northern counties that have done most to narrow the gap display better economic performance. Boys' and girls' education and family structures appear to be crucial determinants of gender equality. Gender equality is positively and significantly associated with economic performance. Accounting for the multi-dimensions of gender equality is crucial for economic development. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/a8bbecf6-84e4-4b6f-9387-602a398f763d
- author
- Perrin, Faustine LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Development process, France, Gender equality, Index, Nineteenth century, J16, N33, O11
- in
- Journal of demographic economics
- volume
- 88
- issue
- 3
- pages
- 379 - 417
- publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85136094093
- ISSN
- 2054-0892
- DOI
- 10.1017/dem.2020.34
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- a8bbecf6-84e4-4b6f-9387-602a398f763d
- date added to LUP
- 2021-04-23 14:41:50
- date last changed
- 2022-09-06 15:27:10
@article{a8bbecf6-84e4-4b6f-9387-602a398f763d,
abstract = {{Knowledge of the long relationship between gender equality and economic growth is hampered by the lack of information and resources on the various dimensions of gender equality. This paper is a first attempt to assess the size of the gender gap and investigate its relationship with economic growth from a historical perspective. Exploiting a unique census-based dataset of 86 French counties in the mid-nineteenth century, I construct a historical gender gap index measuring the size of the gap between men and women in three critical areas: economic opportunities, educational attainment, and health. A county comparison allows me to identify the strengths and weaknesses of French counties in closing the gender gap. I find that France can be divided into two main areas, the North and the South. In particular, the Northern counties that have done most to narrow the gap display better economic performance. Boys' and girls' education and family structures appear to be crucial determinants of gender equality. Gender equality is positively and significantly associated with economic performance. Accounting for the multi-dimensions of gender equality is crucial for economic development.}},
author = {{Perrin, Faustine}},
issn = {{2054-0892}},
keywords = {{Development process; France; Gender equality; Index; Nineteenth century; J16; N33; O11}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
pages = {{379--417}},
publisher = {{Cambridge University Press}},
series = {{Journal of demographic economics}},
title = {{Can the historical gender gap index deepen our understanding of economic development?}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/dem.2020.34}},
doi = {{10.1017/dem.2020.34}},
volume = {{88}},
year = {{2022}},
}