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Female education and social change

Author

Listed:
  • Mathias Bühler

    (Ludwig-Maximilians University)

  • Leonhard Vollmer

    (Ludwig-Maximilians University)

  • Johannes Wimmer

    (Ludwig-Maximilians University)

Abstract

Does access to education facilitate the emergence of a human capital elite from which social activists, and thus, social change can emerge? Assembling a city-level panel of the political, intellectual, and economic elite throughout German history, we find that the opening of schools providing secondary education for women increased their representation among the human capital elite. These elites challenged the status quo and developed critical ideas that resonated in cities with higher human capital, connecting women to form a social movement. We find no evidence of other city-specific indicators of economic and gender-specific cultural change affecting our results. Differential returns to education are also unrelated to the increasing representation of women among the human capital elite, as the opening of gender-specific schools has no impact on the opposite gender.

Suggested Citation

  • Mathias Bühler & Leonhard Vollmer & Johannes Wimmer, 2024. "Female education and social change," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 29(1), pages 79-119, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jecgro:v:29:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s10887-023-09232-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s10887-023-09232-w
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Female education; Human capital; Social change; Gender representation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • N33 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development

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