Abstract
Economic development based on gender inequality is inefficient, and therefore unsustainable in the long run. Women’s economic and social progress has strong implications for the types of human capital, including the level and quality of education, in which women may choose to invest. Women’s investment choices will in turn affect the future productivity of entire economies. Given the strong evidence that workers’ education and skills matter a great deal for economic growth, sub-optimal investments in women’s human capital could significantly impede macroeconomic growth. Besides increasing the productivity of labor, investing in women yields further benefits that have a positive impact on social welfare. The differential ability between men and women to participate in the community and in the economy depends fundamentally on such human capital dimensions as their health status, access to education, and treatment in the labor market. This article examines each of these issues by discussing influential research, presenting trends in descriptive statistics across countries, and reflecting on policy implications.