In this paper, I explore the joint dynamics between gender inequality and cultural norms along the process of development. Cultural norms regarding gender roles are shaped by the relative female labor supply, and thus depend on the gender gap in education. In turn, these norms influence the relative education provided to boys and girls. I show that this two-way causality between the inegalitarian nature of norms and the educational gender gap might explain the emergence of high gender inequality and low development traps. The model also makes it possible to replicate a U-shaped relationship between the relative status of women and the economic development. two anonymous referees, and numerous seminar participants for useful comments and suggestions.

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A large body of evidence suggests that women's empowerment, both within the household and in politics, benefits to children and has the potential to promote economic development.Nevertheless, the existing interactions between these two facets of empowerment have not been considered thus far. The aim of the present paper is to fill this gap by proposing a theoretical framework in which women's bargaining power within both the private sphere and the public sphere is endogenous. We show that the mutual interplay between the evolution of women's voice in the family and in society may lead to the emergence of multiple equilibria and pathdependency phenomena. We also discuss policy interventions that are the most suitable to promote women's empowerment when its multidimensional nature is taken into account.

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