Nonlinearity Between Gender Equality and the Gender Gap in Test Scores: Is the Gender Gap Index the Best Measure?

Keiko Tamada ()
Additional contact information
Keiko Tamada: Fukuoka University, Faculty of Economics

Chapter Chapter 8 in Challenges of Global Economic and Social Transformations, 2026, pp 165-199 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This study investigates the nonlinear relationship between gender inequality and gender gaps in math achievement across 86 countries using Programme for International Student Assessment data. While previous research has assumed a linear relationship, this study finds U-shaped associations between the Gender Gap Index (GGI), and some of its components and gender gaps in math scores. Specifically, initial improvements in gender equality seemingly widen the gap, while further progress narrows it when boys outperform girls, although the patterns differ when girls outperform boys. Upon excluding Muslim-majority countries, where girls often outperform boys despite the high gender inequality, many relationships shift from nonlinear to linear. Additionally, this study highlights the limitation of relying solely on the GGI that often fails to reflect female advantages in education consequently yielding inconclusive results. The findings underscore the importance of disaggregated analysis and caution when interpreting prior studies that overlook nonlinear patterns and sample composition.

Keywords: Gender gaps; Gender equality; Cross-cultural patterns; STEM education; Math; Programme for International Student Assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-032-06022-8_8

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/9783032060228

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-06022-8_8

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Springer Books from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().