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Civil Liberties and Gender Disparity in Educational Attainment

Author

Listed:
  • Takahiro Akita

  • Mitsuhiro Hayashi
  • Mitsuhiko Kataoka

    (IUJ Research Institute, International University of Japan)

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between civil liberties and gender disparity in educational attainment. We perform a dynamic panel data analysis using a unique panel dataset constructed from the Barro and Lee fs data on educational attainment and Freedom House fs data on civil liberties. The panel dataset covers 146 countries at five-year intervals from 1975 to 2015. One of the key findings is that, ceteris paribus, countries with higher levels of civil liberties tend to exhibit smaller levels of gender disparity in educational attainment. This implies that civil liberties may promote greater gender equality in educational attainment. It is observed also that gender disparity in educational attainment appears to follow a slight U-shaped pattern in relation to educational expansion, suggesting that the gender disparity initially decreases, but after reaching its lowest point at the mean years of education of around 8.6, it may begin to rise with further educational expansion.

Suggested Citation

  • Takahiro Akita & Mitsuhiro Hayashi & Mitsuhiko Kataoka, 2025. "Civil Liberties and Gender Disparity in Educational Attainment," Working Papers EMS_2025_05, Research Institute, International University of Japan.
    • Handle: RePEc:iuj:wpaper:ems_2025_05
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State

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