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Economic freedom and legal gender disparity

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  • Claudia Williamson Kramer

Abstract

Using a panel dataset from 1970 to 2019, this paper theorizes and empirically demonstrates that countries with higher levels of economic freedom have fewer legal differences between men's and women's economics rights. Specifically, economic freedom promotes equal legal treatment of women to work, get paid, and be entrepreneurs. This finding is robust to controlling for income, political institutional quality, and country and period fixed effects. Furthermore, economic freedom's impact is amplified in democratic countries. The results challenge the prevailing notion that capitalism is detrimental to women, instead providing evidence that economically free countries favor less legal discrimination against women.

Suggested Citation

  • Claudia Williamson Kramer, 2025. "Economic freedom and legal gender disparity," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 43(4), pages 573-588, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:coecpo:v:43:y:2025:i:4:p:573-588
    DOI: 10.1111/coep.12675
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    References listed on IDEAS

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