Working Paper: NBER ID: w20380
Authors: Seema Jayachandran
Abstract: Is the high degree of gender inequality in developing countries--in education, personal autonomy, and more--explained by underdevelopment itself? Or do the societies that are poor today hold certain cultural views that lead to gender inequality? This article discusses several mechanisms through which, as countries grow, gender gaps narrow. I argue that while much of the GDP/gender-inequality relationship can be explained by the process of development, society-specific factors are also at play: Many countries that are poor today have cultural norms that exacerbate favoritism toward males. Norms such as patrilocality and concern for women's "purity" help explain the male-skewed sex ratio in India and China and low female employment in India, the Middle East, and North Africa, for example. I also discuss why the sex ratio has become more male-skewed with development. Finally, I lay out some policy approaches to address gender inequality.
Keywords: gender inequality; economic development; cultural norms; patrilocality; son preference
JEL Codes: J16; O10; O14; O15
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Economic Development (O29) | Gender Inequality (F63) |
| Higher GDP per capita (O57) | Lower Gender Disparities in Education, Health, and Labor Force Participation (I24) |
| Cultural Norms Favoring Males (J16) | Gender Inequality (F63) |
| Patrilocality (J12) | Male-Skewed Sex Ratio and Lower Female Employment (J79) |
| Technological Advancements and Reduced Fertility Rates (O49) | Increased Female Labor Force Participation (J21) |
| Economic Growth (O49) | Better Gender Outcomes (J16) |
| Cultural Practices (Son Preference) (J13) | Hindering Gender Gap Narrowing (F63) |