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The Institutional Basis of Gender Inequality

Author

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  • Branisa, Boris
  • Ziegler, Maria
  • Klasen, Stephan

Abstract

In this paper we construct the Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) and its five subindices Family code, Civil liberties, Physical integrity, Son Preference and Ownership rights using variables of the OECD Gender, Institutions and Development database. Instead of measuring gender inequality in education, health, economic or political participation, these indices allow a new perspective on gender issues in developing countries. The SIGI and the subindices measure long-lasting social institutions which are mirrored by societal practices and legal norms that frame gender-relevant meanings and form the basis of gender roles. The subindices measure each one dimension of the concept and the SIGI combines the subindices into a multidimensional index of deprivation of women caused by social institutions. Methodologically, the SIGI is inspired by the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke poverty measures. It offers a new way of aggregating gender inequality in several dimensions, penalizing high inequality in each dimension and allowing only for partial compensation between dimensions. The SIGI and the subindices are useful tools to identify countries and dimensions of social institutions that deserve attention. Empirical results confirm that the SIGI provides additional information to that of other well-known gender-related indices.

Suggested Citation

  • Branisa, Boris & Ziegler, Maria & Klasen, Stephan, 2010. "The Institutional Basis of Gender Inequality," Proceedings of the German Development Economics Conference, Hannover 2010 16, Verein für Socialpolitik, Research Committee Development Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:gdec10:16
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. World Bank, 2008. "World Development Indicators 2008," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 11855, December.
    2. Johannes Jütting & Christian Morrisson & Jeff Dayton-Johnson & Denis Drechsler, 2006. "The Gender, Institutions and Development Data Base," OECD Development Centre Policy Insights 16, OECD Publishing.
    3. World Bank, 2008. "World Development Indicators 2008," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 28241, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jasna Kovačević & Dževad Šehić, 2015. "The Pursuit Of A Remedy For Gender Inequality In Wider Europe: Comparison Of Policies And Indices In The Eu, Nordic Countries, And South East Europe," Economic Annals, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Belgrade, vol. 60(204), pages 127-156, January –.
    2. Lapniewska, Zofi, 2014. "Well-being and social development in the context of gender equality," 2014 Papers pla730, Job Market Papers.
    3. Krieger, Tim & Renner, Laura, 2018. "A cautionary tale on polygyny, conflict and gender inequality," Discussion Paper Series 2018-02, University of Freiburg, Wilfried Guth Endowed Chair for Constitutional Political Economy and Competition Policy.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    SIGI; Composite index; Gender inequality; Social institutions; OECD-GID database;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • I39 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Other
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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