TY - JOUR
T1 - Women's human capital and economic growth in the Middle East and North Africa
AU - Torabi, Fatemeh
AU - Abbasi-Shavazi, Mohammad Jalal
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Journal of International Women's Studies.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - The process of demographic transition has increased the share of the working-age population in Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This situation has created an opportunity for economic growth, called the demographic dividend. Global comparisons show that a favorable age structure has not always resulted in a boost in economic growth. In order to take a full advantage of the MENA's demographic dividend, it is important to identify different factors contributing to economic growth in this region. Investment in women's human capital is expected to have important implications for the region's economic growth and for maximizing the benefits created by the demographic dividend. Using a range of data sources, this paper aims to determine the association between women's human capital (measured by adult educational attainment and health status) and economic growth (measured by gross national income per capita) in MENA. The findings show a positive association between these two. Specifically, the national-level income is generally higher in countries with lower maternal mortality and higher female literacy, female tertiary education, female life and healthy life expectancies at birth and professional childbirth attendance. Thus, investment in women's human capital can accelerate the pace of development in MENA.
AB - The process of demographic transition has increased the share of the working-age population in Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This situation has created an opportunity for economic growth, called the demographic dividend. Global comparisons show that a favorable age structure has not always resulted in a boost in economic growth. In order to take a full advantage of the MENA's demographic dividend, it is important to identify different factors contributing to economic growth in this region. Investment in women's human capital is expected to have important implications for the region's economic growth and for maximizing the benefits created by the demographic dividend. Using a range of data sources, this paper aims to determine the association between women's human capital (measured by adult educational attainment and health status) and economic growth (measured by gross national income per capita) in MENA. The findings show a positive association between these two. Specifically, the national-level income is generally higher in countries with lower maternal mortality and higher female literacy, female tertiary education, female life and healthy life expectancies at birth and professional childbirth attendance. Thus, investment in women's human capital can accelerate the pace of development in MENA.
KW - Economic growth
KW - Human capital
KW - Women in the Middle East
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84938920685&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
SN - 1539-8706
VL - 16
SP - 237
EP - 261
JO - Journal of International Women's Studies
JF - Journal of International Women's Studies
IS - 3
ER -