The Historical Gender Gap Index: A Longitudinal and Spatial Assessment of Sweden, 1870-1990

Tobias Karlsson (tobias.karlsson@ekh.lu.se), Joris Kok (joris.kok@iisg.nl) and Faustine Perrin
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Tobias Karlsson: Department of Economic History, Lund University, Postal: Department of Economic History, Lund University, Box 7083, S-220 07 Lund, Sweden
Joris Kok: International Institute of Social History, Postal: P.O. Box 2169, 1000 CD Amsterdam, https://iisg.amsterdam/en/about/staff/joris-kok

No 217, Lund Papers in Economic History from Lund University, Department of Economic History

Abstract: Our knowledge of the long-run evolution of gender equality is limited. We currently lack quantitative indicators capable of capturing the variations on and changes in the individual dimensions of gender equality. This paper seeks to assess the long-run evolution of gender roles and relations in Sweden. To this end, we build a database with quantitative indicators of gender equality. These indicators allow us to construct a Historical Gender Gap Index (HGGI), which isused to describe and analyze the evolution of gender equality in Sweden during a phase characterized by industrialization, urbanization and demographic transition. We find that after a period of stagnation, Sweden from the 1940s onwards made significant progress in closing the gender gap to reach the high level of gender equality that it is now famous for. All counties have made substantial improvements in closing the gap over time, although some counties have been quicker than others. Our investigation reveals the existence of a convergence pattern between counties.

Keywords: Gender Equality; Index; Development Process; Sweden (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J16 N33 O11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 51 pages
Date: 2021-02-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem, nep-evo, nep-gen, nep-his and nep-lab
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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