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Does the digital economy improve female autonomy?

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  • Xue, Qihang
  • Wang, Huimin
  • Wei, Jian
  • Bai, Caiquan

Abstract

Based on China's long-term implementation of gender equality, the rapid development of the digital economy has provided new opportunities for improving female autonomy and releasing the “gender dividend”. This study explores the impact of the digital economy on female autonomy, using digital economy index we constructed and the 2014-2020 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data. We find that the development of the digital economy can significantly improve female autonomy, both economically and spiritually. Meanwhile, the digital economy can also alleviate the “marriage penalty” and “motherhood penalty”. Furthermore, we find that digital economy's career guarantee effect and capital consolidation effect are important mechanisms, which can promote women's participation in employment, as well as enable them to have higher human capital and social capital.

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  • Xue, Qihang & Wang, Huimin & Wei, Jian & Bai, Caiquan, 2024. "Does the digital economy improve female autonomy?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 193-207.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:streco:v:71:y:2024:i:c:p:193-207
    DOI: 10.1016/j.strueco.2024.07.008
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Digital economy; Female autonomy; Career guarantee effect; Capital consolidation effect;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General

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