The Relationship Between GDP and Gender Equality Across Countries

Abstract

This study investigates how the relationship of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita and gender equality indicators vary at the 150 countries level as of 2023 through a descriptive statistical technique. This paper draws on data from the World Bank, UN Development Programme (UNDP), World Economic Forum (WEF), and International Labour Organization (ILO) to track change over time in three widely recognized indicators: the Gender Inequality Index (GII), Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI), and female labor force participation rates (FLFPR). Without forcing causation, they chart global trends using descriptive stats (mean, quartile distribution, scatter plot) and regional breaks. This paper finds that outcomes are generally consistent with negative estimates for GDP per capita on GII, and positive associations of GGGI and FLFPR with GDP per capita across most income levels, although more mixed compared to within-group averages. This means some low-income countries actually perform better than they would have been expected to do given the lack of resources spent in certain attributes and that even high-income nations perform worse than expected for their level of resources available. These results expose the complex process of converting economic resources into gender equality and argue for nuanced and specific policy designs as a solution.