IMF Working Papers

Sex Discrimination and Growth

By Berta Esteve-Volart

April 1, 2000

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Berta Esteve-Volart. Sex Discrimination and Growth, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2000) accessed December 14, 2024
Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

This paper argues that sex discrimination is an inefficient practice. We model sex discrimination as the complete exclusion of females from the labor market or as the exclusion of females from managerial positions. The former implies a reduction in GDP per capita; the latter distorts the allocation of talent and lowers economic growth. Both imply lower female-to-male schooling ratios. Our model predicts a convex relationship between nondiscrimination and growth. Although discrimination is difficult to measure, it will be reflected in schooling differentials. We present evidence based on cross-country regressions that is consistent with a convex relationship between schooling differentials and growth.

Subject: Education, Human capital, Labor markets, Wages, Women

Keywords: Growth rate, Least squares, Sex discrimination, Significance level, WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    36

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 2000/084

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA0842000

  • ISBN:

    9781451850635

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941