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Gender Equality, Economic Growth, and Women's Agency: the "Endless Variety" and "Monotonous Similarity" of Patriarchal Constraints

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  • Naila Kabeer

Abstract

Macroeconometric studies generally find fairly robust evidence that gender equality has a positive impact on economic growth, but reverse findings relating to the impact of economic growth on gender equality are far less consistent. The high level of aggregation at which these studies are carried out makes it difficult to ascertain the causal pathways that might explain this asymmetry in impacts. Using a feminist institutional framework, this contribution explores studies carried out at lower levels of analysis for insights into the pathways likely to be driving these two sets of relationships and a possible explanation for their asymmetry.

Suggested Citation

  • Naila Kabeer, 2016. "Gender Equality, Economic Growth, and Women's Agency: the "Endless Variety" and "Monotonous Similarity" of Patriarchal Constraints," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(1), pages 295-321, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:femeco:v:22:y:2016:i:1:p:295-321
    DOI: 10.1080/13545701.2015.1090009
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Amit Nandan & Hrushikesh Mallick, 2020. "Does Gender Equality Matter for Regional Growth and Income Inequality? An Empirical Analysis for the Indian States," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(4), pages 439-469, May.
    4. Stumbitz, Bianca & Lewis, Suzan & Kyei, Abigail A. & Lyon, Fergus, 2018. "Maternity protection in formal and informal economy workplaces: The case of Ghana," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 373-384.
    5. Manuel Santos Silva & Stephan Klasen, 2021. "Gender inequality as a barrier to economic growth: a review of the theoretical literature," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 581-614, September.
    6. Aslı Özen Atabey & Mustafa Karakuş, 2025. "The Relationship between the Sectoral Structure of Female Employment and Economic Growth and Income Distribution in Türkiye: Empirical Evidence from Fourier-Based Cointegration and Causality Analyses," Journal of Research in Economics, Politics & Finance, Ersan ERSOY, vol. 10(2), pages 677-708.
    7. Lutfun Nahar Lata & Peter Walters & Sonia Roitman, 2021. "The politics of gendered space: Social norms and purdah affecting female informal work in Dhaka, Bangladesh," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 318-336, January.
    8. Mmaphuti Percy Dipela & Gavela Rossaline Ndhlovu, 2025. "Invisible chains: structural and emotional forces behind women’s continued stay in abusive relationships," International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293), Bussecon International Academy, vol. 7(4), pages 187-196, July.
    9. Haroon Ur Rashid Khan & Anwar Khan & Khalid Zaman & Agha Amad Nabi & Sanil S. Hishan & Talat Islam, 2017. "Gender discrimination in education, health, and labour market: a voice for equality," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 51(5), pages 2245-2266, September.
    10. Neetu A. John & Kirsten Stoebenau & Samantha Ritter & Jeffrey Edmeades & Nikola Balvin & UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti, 2017. "Gender Socialization during Adolescence in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Conceptualization, influences and outcomes," Papers indipa885, Innocenti Discussion Papers.
    11. Yokying, Phanwin & Lambrecht, Isabel, 2020. "Landownership and the gender gap in agriculture: Insights from northern Ghana," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).

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