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The impact of gender stereotypes on economic growth

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Abstract

This paper argues that gender-specific educational choices have macroeconomic consequences in terms of economic growth. The presence of a social norm affecting persons choosing gender atypical educations at the university level generates a suboptimal allocation of ability, which lowers technological change and the stock of human capital, and thus hurts growth. The analysis of a cross-section of 88 countries over the period 1970 to 1998 lends empirical support for the importance of the educational gender stereotypes for economics growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Boschini, Anne, 2003. "The impact of gender stereotypes on economic growth," Research Papers in Economics 2003:4, Stockholm University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:sunrpe:2003_0004
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    File URL: http://www2.ne.su.se/paper/wp03_04.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Stephanie Seguino, 2005. "All types of inequality are not created equal: divergent impacts of inequality on economic growth," Working Papers 10, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, revised Oct 2005.
    2. Stephanie Seguino, 2008. "Gender, Distribution, and Balance of Payments (revised 10/08)," Working Papers wp133_revised, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    economic growth; ability; higher education; gender-specific educational choices; social norms;

    JEL classification:

    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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