Let girls boost economic growth

Abstract: In low- and lower middle income countries, female education is known to be one of the crucial elements for generating economic growth. However, a weakness in the established literature is the tendency to focus on either gender equality or human capital accumulation through female education as the driving force behind growth. Thus, this study seeks to contribute to existing research in the area by combining the two approaches and gain further knowledge on their interconnection. To achieve the aim of the study, year data from 1999 to 2014 on gender equality and female education is collected from 76 low- and lower middle income countries within six different regions. Regressions are performed with a random effect panel data model, estimated with GLS, to investigate whether gender equality and human capital accumulation through female education are interconnected. The results later suggest interconnection and their combined effect on economic growth to be similar between regions and detectable on a global level.