Are There Gender-Separate Human Capital Effects on Growth? A Review of the Recent Empirical Literature

U. of Nottingham CREDIT Working Paper No. 00/13

65 Pages Posted: 5 Jan 2005

See all articles by Paula K. Lorgelly

Paula K. Lorgelly

University of East Anglia - School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice

Date Written: 2000

Abstract

This paper provides a review of the recent empirical growth literature which includes human capital as a determinant of economic growth; special attention is given to the studies which investigate gender-separate human capital effects. While there is a general consensus regarding the role of (gender-neutral) human capital in the growth process - increasing educational attainment and health status increases labour productivity resulting in greater economic growth - there is a great deal of contradictory evidence regarding the effect of gender-separate human capital on economic growth. For example, in their seminal article, Barro and Lee (1994) find that, while growth is positively related to male education, it is negatively related to female education; Caselli, Esquivel and Lefort (1996), however, find the opposite, while Birdsall, Ross and Sabot (1997) report no significant difference between the genders. This article attempts to appraise and critique this confusing literature, and in the process, resolve many of the existing ambiguities.

Keywords: Gender, human capital, growth, literature review

JEL Classification: O11, O15

Suggested Citation

Lorgelly, Paula K., Are There Gender-Separate Human Capital Effects on Growth? A Review of the Recent Empirical Literature (2000). U. of Nottingham CREDIT Working Paper No. 00/13, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=627222 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.627222

Paula K. Lorgelly (Contact Author)

University of East Anglia - School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice ( email )

Norwich Research Park
Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7TJ
United Kingdom

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