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Gender(ed) equity: The growth of female shareholding in Australia, 1857–1937

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  • Grant Fleming
  • Zhangxin (Frank) Liu
  • David Merrett
  • Simon Ville

Abstract

Little is known about the history of female investing in Australia. We develop a new dataset of company shareholders between 1857 and 1937, covering all major sectors of the economy. We calculate the female fraction of shareowners, their occupational and geographic backgrounds, and we analyse their investment patterns and behaviours including their risk profiles and portfolio construction decisions. Our findings suggest that ‘gender equity’—and more—had been reached, for some companies, by the interwar period. Women investors came from many walks of life, had various motives, and appear to have largely acted independently of other women and of men.

Suggested Citation

  • Grant Fleming & Zhangxin (Frank) Liu & David Merrett & Simon Ville, 2024. "Gender(ed) equity: The growth of female shareholding in Australia, 1857–1937," Asia-Pacific Economic History Review, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 64(3), pages 291-314, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:apechr:v:64:y:2024:i:3:p:291-314
    DOI: 10.1111/aehr.12300
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    1. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Smyth, Russell & Trinh, Trong-Anh, 2025. "Gender norms and solar panel energy adoption in Australia: Evidence from a natural experiment," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).

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