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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

An evolving literature addresses the role of women in business in colonial Australia. We know less about their contribution as investors, a topic that has received much greater attention in other nations, particularly Britain. We address this lacuna by deploying a dataset of shareholders in Australian companies between 1857 and 1937, covering all major sectors in the economy. We calculate the female share of shareholdings and shareowners, their occupational and geographic backgrounds, and 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 at least some companies, by the interwar period. Women investors came from many walks of life, had different motives, and as a class appear to have largely acted independently.

Suggested Citation

  • Grant Fleming & Zhangxin (Frank) Liu & David Merrett & Simon Ville, 2023. "Gender(ed) equity: The growth of female shareholding in Australia, 1857-1937," CEH Discussion Papers 05, Centre for Economic History, Research School of Economics, Australian National University.
    • Handle: RePEc:auu:hpaper:115
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