Feminist Economics of Inequality, Development, and Growth

Abstract

This study examines connections between intergroup inequality and macroeconomic outcomes, considering various channels through which gender, growth, and development interact. It upholds the salience not only of equality in opportunities but also equality in outcomes. The contribution argues that inequalities based on gender, race, ethnicity, and class undermine the ability to provision and expand capabilities, and it examines the macroeconomic policies that are likely to promote broadly shared development. It explores how the macroeconomy acts as a structure of constraint in achieving gender equality and in turn how gender relations in areas like education and wage gaps can have macro-level impacts. Further, it underscores that the interaction of the macroeconomy and gender relations depends on the structure of the economy, the nature of job segregation, the particular measure of gender inequality, and a country's international relations. Finally, it outlines policies for promoting gender equality as both an intrinsic goal and a step toward improving well-being.Development, growth, inequality, gender, macroeconomic policy, feminist economics, JEL CODES: 04, J3, E0, B54, D30,

Impact of Sectoral Allocation of Foreign Aid on Gender Equity and Human Development

“…This is somewhat surprising given the burgeoning literature that points to the links between gender inequality on the one hand and macroeconomic policies and economic growth on the other. A growing number of theoretical and empirical studies suggest that gender inequality in employment outcomes can affect economic growth, although the effect is influenced by the structure of the economy, the macroeconomic policy regime and the extent of gender segregation in employment (Berik et al 2009;Braunstein 2012). 1 Gender gaps in education may also constrain economic growth.…”

Crecimiento económico y desigualdad de género: análisis de panel para cinco países de América Latina

“…Por consiguiente, si la equidad de género produce efectos de oferta positivos en la calidad de la fuerza laboral en el largo plazo, en el corto plazo esta equidad de género puede provocar choques que pueden sacar a la economía de su ruta. La duración de este desvío debería analizarse (Berik, Rodgers y Seguino, 2009). …”

Does Gender Equality Lead to Better-Performing Economies A Bayesian Causal Map Approach

“…In their extensive literature survey of inequality, development and growth, Berik et al (2009) discuss the gendered structure of the macroeconomic environment and thus the way it affects and reproduces inequalities within a society, while at the same time having implications for economic development. Authors provide an overview of the mixed impacts of macroeconomic policies on women's employment and wage gaps and how trade and investment liberalization have different impacts on men and women in terms of labour markets, domestic workloads, literacy rates, poverty reduction and income distribution.…”

“…These studies focus on development strategies, labour market adjustments and wage gaps between women and men (Çağatay and Özler 1995;Başlevent and Onaran 2004;Wanjala and Were 2009;İlkkaracan 2012). Over the last few decades, many export-oriented and rapidly growing developing countries have seen enormous expansion of informal, vulnerable job sectors that attract significant numbers of female employees (Berik et al 2009). …”

“…A very rich literature examining the relationship between inequality and economic growth developed and the gender inequality and economic growth in particular, is a growing area of research (Berik et al 2009;Cuberes and Teignier 2014;Kabeer and Natalie 2013;Seguino 2000a;2000b;. Nevertheless, despite some consensus, much of the findings still exhibit a diversity because of the chosen indicators, methodologies, data, time frames, structure of the economies, mechanism by which the two factors affect each other, variety of the macroeconomic policies implemented, level of development, geography and cultural features as well as the patriarchal structures in the countries.…”