## Frayed Societies: Decoding the Interplay between Conflicts and Gender Inequality

_IMF Working Papers, January 17, 2025_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Frayed Societies: Decoding the Interplay between Conflicts and Gender Inequality](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2025/01/17/frayed-societies-decoding-the-interplay-between-conflicts-and-gender-inequality-559029)

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## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Paola Ganum, Can Sever
- Published: January 17, 2025
- Series: IMF Working Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400292514.001

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### Overview
- Paper explores the relationship between violent conflicts and gender inequality in a global sample since the 1990s.
- Analysis uses a composite index to measure gender inequality in outcomes.
- Considers both interstate and intrastate conflict events.
- Highlights implications for economic growth and development, particularly in the post-Covid-19 era.

### Key findings
- Conflicts predict a higher gender inequality in outcomes based on the composite index.
- Conflicts tend to widen cross-country gaps in gender inequality in outcomes.
- Conflicts are associated with lower economic rights for women in legislation, indicating an adverse effect on gender inequality in opportunities.
- The associations between conflicts and gender inequality provide a channel for a long-lasting drag on economic performance following conflict episodes.

### Gender-specific outcomes documented
- School enrollment rate by females in primary education tends to decrease in the aftermath of conflict episodes.
- Share of seats in parliament held by women tends to decrease in the aftermath of conflict episodes.
- Maternal mortality rate increases following conflict episodes.

### Mechanisms and implications
- Conflicts affect both outcomes (education, health, political representation) and opportunities (legal economic rights) for women.
- Reduced women’s empowerment is linked to slower economic growth and development, constituting a pathway for persistent economic damage after conflicts.
- The ongoing political and security-related challenges across the globe amplify the importance of these findings for sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

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## Content in this bundle

- **Working Paper**
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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2025/01/17/frayed-societies-decoding-the-interplay-between-conflicts-and-gender-inequality-559029_