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Education, Social Equality and Economic Growth: A View of the Landscape

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  • Thorvaldur Gylfason
  • Gylfi Zoega

Abstract

Education has been one of the key determinants of economic growth around the world since 1965. In this paper, we discuss three different measures of education, and consider their relationship to the distribution of income as measured by the Gini coefficient as well as to economic growth across countries. The three measures are: (a) gross secondary-school enrolment, (b) public expenditure on education relative to national income and (c) expected years of schooling for girls. We show that all three measures of education are directly related to income equality across countries. In a sample of 87 countries at all income levels, we also find that more and better education appears to encourage economic growth directly as well as indirectly through increased social equality and cohesion. Our regression results survive the introduction of regional dummy variables for Africa, Asia and Central and South America. We argue that the empirical relationship between education, on the one hand, and growth and equality, on the other hand, can help account for the positive correlation between the two latter variables that has been documented in the literature. (JEL 128, O15, O40)

Suggested Citation

  • Thorvaldur Gylfason & Gylfi Zoega, 2003. "Education, Social Equality and Economic Growth: A View of the Landscape," CESifo Economic Studies, CESifo Group, vol. 49(4), pages 557-579.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:cesifo:v:49:y:2003:i:4:p:557-579.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/cesifo/49.4.557
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    Cited by:

    1. Abdul Wahab, Abdul Azeez Oluwanisola & Kefeli, Zurina & Hashim, Nurhazirah, 2018. "Investigating The Dynamic Effect of Healthcare Expenditure and Education Expenditure On Economic Growth in Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC)," MPRA Paper 90338, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 19 Oct 2018.
    2. Omwoyo Bosire Onyancha, 2020. "A meta-analysis study of the relationship between research and economic development in selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 123(2), pages 655-675, May.
    3. Asplund, Rita, 2004. "A Macroeconomic Perspective on Education and Inequality," Discussion Papers 906, The Research Institute of the Finnish Economy.
    4. Wasim Qazi & Syed Raza & Syed Jawaid, 2014. "Higher education and growth performance of Pakistan: evidence from multivariate framework," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 1651-1665, May.
    5. Lingaraj MALLICK & Pradeep Kumar DAS & Kalandi Charan PRADHAN, 2016. "Impact of educational expenditure on economic growth in major Asian countries: Evidence from econometric analysis," Theoretical and Applied Economics, Asociatia Generala a Economistilor din Romania / Editura Economica, vol. 0(2(607), S), pages 173-186, Summer.
    6. Habibi, Fateh & Zabardast, Mohamad Amjad, 2020. "Digitalization, education and economic growth: A comparative analysis of Middle East and OECD countries," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    7. Guangyou Zhou & Sumei Luo, 2018. "Higher Education Input, Technological Innovation, and Economic Growth in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-15, July.
    8. Almanzar, Miguel & Torero, Maximo, 2017. "Distributional Effects of Growth and Public Expenditures in Africa: Estimates for Tanzania and Rwanda," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 177-195.
    9. Burcu Kiran, 2014. "Testing the impact of educational expenditures on economic growth: new evidence from Latin American countries," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 1181-1190, May.
    10. Chikelu, James Chukwubudom, 2016. "Impact of Human Capital Development on Poverty Reduction in Nigeria," MPRA Paper 74696, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Olukemi I. Lawanson & Dominic I. Umar, 2020. "Education Expenditure-Led Growth: Evidence from Nigeria (1980-2018)," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 13(3), pages 133-133, March.
    12. Tanti Novianti & Dian Verawati Panjaitan, 2022. "Income Inequality in Indonesia: Before and during the Covid-19 Pandemic," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 12(3), pages 29-37, May.
    13. Salwa TRABELSI, 2017. "Public education expenditure and economic growth: the educational quality threshold effect," Region et Developpement, Region et Developpement, LEAD, Universite du Sud - Toulon Var, vol. 45, pages 99-112.
    14. Guo, Qingran & Abbas, Shujaat & AbdulKareem, Hauwah K.K. & Shuaibu, Muhammad Shehu & Khudoykulov, Khurshid & Saha, Tanaya, 2023. "Devising strategies for sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa: The roles of renewable, non-renewable energy, and natural resources," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    15. Digdowiseiso, Kumba, 2009. "Education inequality, economic growth, and income inequality: Evidence from Indonesia, 1996-2005," MPRA Paper 17792, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Anam Azam & Muhammad Rafiq & Muhammad Shafique & Jiahai Yuan, 2023. "Interpreting the Dynamic Nexus between Green Energy, Employment, Fossil Fuel Energy, and Human Development Index: A Panel Data Investigation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-17, March.
    17. Machado, Fabiana, 2011. "Does Inequality breed Altruism or Selfishness? Gauging Individuals’ Predispositions Towards Redistributive Schemes," MPRA Paper 35664, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    18. Dastjerdi, Rasul Bakhshi & Isfahani, Rahim Dalali, 2011. "Equity and economic growth, a theoretical and empirical study: MENA zone," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 28(1-2), pages 694-700, January.
    19. Yassine Jaber & Ismail Kabouri & Mohamed Bouzahzah & Ibourk Aomar & Mohamed Karim, 2022. "Economic growth and education in Morocco: Cointegration and Toda Yamamoto Granger Causality," Post-Print hal-03694377, HAL.
    20. Lars Calmfors & Giancarlo Corsetti & Seppo Honkapohja & John Kay & Willi Leibfritz & Gilles Saint-Paul & Hans-Werner Sinn & Xavier Vives, 2004. "EEAG European Economic Advisory Group at CESifo: Report on the European Economy 2004," EEAG Report on the European Economy, CESifo, vol. 0, pages 1-148, October.
    21. Álvaro Hurtado Rendón & Luis Alfredo Molina, 2012. "Inestabilidad institucional, evidencia para Colombia: la violencia y el crecimiento económico en el periodo 1950-2010," Documentos de Trabajo de Valor Público 10572, Universidad EAFIT.
    22. BOLARINWA Taiwo Agosu, 2023. "Effect Of Formal Education On Poverty Reduction In Nigeria," Management of Sustainable Development, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 15(2), pages 73-79, December.
    23. Mr. Mark Gradstein & Ms. Era Dabla-Norris, 2004. "The Distributional Bias of Public Education: Causes and Consequences," IMF Working Papers 2004/214, International Monetary Fund.
    24. Badiane, Ousmane & Ulimwengu, John, 2009. "The growth-poverty convergence agenda: Optimizing social expenditures to maximize their impact on agricultural labor productivity, growth, and poverty reduction in Africa," IFPRI discussion papers 906, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    25. Zi Wen Vivien Wong & Fanyu Chen & Siong Hook Law & Normaz Wana Ismail, 2022. "The Effects Of Rent Seeking Activities On Economic Growth In Middle-Income Countries," Bulletin of Monetary Economics and Banking, Bank Indonesia, vol. 25(2), pages 215-234, August.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General

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