The effect of gender equality in education on economic growth

Gender equality is not only a human right, but is also suggested to have economic benefits. One of the rights discriminated to girls, especially in developing countries, is their right to education. The purpose of this thesis is to find the effect of gender equality in education on economic growth in developing countries in Asia. An economic growth model is modified to include a gender ratio variable and used to find theoretical evidence for the relationship between gender equality in education and economic growth. Theories indicate that educating girls increases the average level of human capital as well as generates female-specific effects that contribute to economic growth. Panel data for 18 countries is used for linear and nonlinear regression analysis. Data from 1970 to 2015 is divided into five-year periods to find the relationship between gender equality in education and economic growth. Both the level of gender equality and the growth rate of gender equality in education are explored as factors of economic growth. The regression analysis implies that a more gender equal education or a higher growth rate of gender equality benefits GDP per capita growth