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The legal protection of women’s property rights, factors of production, and economic growth

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  • O’Reilly, Colin
  • Sheehan, Kathleen M.

Abstract

In many countries, women have fewer or weaker property rights than men. This reduces the productivity of both physical and human capital, hindering growth in countries with unequal laws. We assess the relationship between the legal protection of women’s property rights and economic growth in a large panel of countries and find that the legal protection of women’s property rights is vital for development. Specifically, we present evidence that women’s legal protection of property rights may affect economic growth by making human capital more productive.

Suggested Citation

  • O’Reilly, Colin & Sheehan, Kathleen M., 2025. "The legal protection of women’s property rights, factors of production, and economic growth," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:255:y:2025:i:c:s0165176525003416
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2025.112504
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
    • P48 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional Studies
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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