Economists have long studied the economic dimensions of gender inequality, but new developments and the persistence of gender gaps make clear that deeper analysis is needed. Traditional research on these topics, for instance, has tended to rely on high-level analysis of female labor force participation across countries. Recently, however, nuanced empirical insights suggest that many country- and region-specific factors, from norms and institutions to economic structure and growth, can shape women’s economic participation, contributions, and well-being.

Yet such research is often limited by poor data, inadequate metrics, and the fact that technological change and other factors are changing the very nature of economic growth and development. The EGC is employing diverse methods to advance the evidence base on the linkages and consequences of gender inequality.

Given the multidimensional nature of these issues, the project brings together leading micro and macroeconomists as well as policy-focused senior staff affiliated with EGC.

Approach

Research efforts follow a synergistic multi-pronged approach:

• Macro-perspective: We work to understand structural economic transformation processes in an age of service-led and digitally-enabled growth alongside analyzing its implications for gender gaps in labor market outcomes in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) economies. We also study the impact of closing labor markets gender gaps on aggregate productivity and growth, and examine new headwinds to LMIC growth strategies including climate risk, declining fertility at lower income levels, trade barriers, and automation/AI integration in production processes.
• Micro-perspective: We have piloted new experimental methods and measurement tools for primary data collection that better capture underlying drivers of gender gaps in labor markets, including individual beliefs and norms.
• Policy engagement: We engage with in-country policy partners in focal LMICs to inform the questions, methods, results, and policy guidance developed through this project’s research activities, and work with them on research translation and policy application. We also collaborate with multilateral partners engaging in country advisory for growth. 

This research has received support from:

The Development Policy and Finance team at the Gates Foundation