Why we should all care about social institutions related to gender inequality

Boris Branisa, Stephan Klasen and Maria Ziegler
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Maria Ziegler: University of Göttingen

No 15, Courant Research Centre: Poverty, Equity and Growth - Discussion Papers from Courant Research Centre PEG

Abstract: Institutions are a major factor explaining development outcomes. This study focuses on social institutions related to gender inequality understood as long-lasting norms, values and codes of conduct that shape gender roles, and presents evidence on why they matter for development. We derive hypotheses from existing theories and empirically test them at the cross-country level with linear regressions using the newly created Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) and its subindices as measures for social institutions. We find that apart from geography, political system, religion, the level of economic development, one has to consider social institutions related to gender inequality to better account for differences in development. Our results show that social institutions that deprive women of their autonomy and bargaining power in the household, or that increase the private costs and reduce the private returns to investments into girls, are associated with lower female education, higher fertility rates and higher child mortality. Moreover, social institutions related to gender inequality are negatively associated with governance measured as rule of law and voice and accountability.

Keywords: Social institutions; SIGI; Gender inequality; Fertility; Child and infant mortality; Female education; Governance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D63 H1 I10 I20 J16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009-11-13
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hap, nep-pol and nep-soc
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Why we should all care about social institutions related to gender inequality (2010)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:got:gotcrc:015

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