Gender Inequality and Economic Development Knowledge for Development Program 2004

2 Selection-Distortion and Environment Effects Gender Inequality in Education Boys with lower innate abilities get educated Less Educated Mothers - Less intellectually stimulating environment Less life-long learning at the household level Lower quality of students Gender Inequality in Employment Lower Quality Labor Force Lower TFP Growth Marginal Product of Capital Decreases Less Investment Lower Economic Growth Knowledge for Development Program 2004

3 Environment Effects Gender inequality in education – less female education at each level of male education –Less-educated mothers provide environments that are less intellectually stimulating –Resulting in a lower quality of students Equally educated siblings and couples tend to strengthen each other’s educational success and life-long learning –Gender inequality in education tends to result in less life-long learning Knowledge for Development Program 2004

4 Demographic Transition Effects Gender Equality in Education Education attainment of women increases Lower fertility – less children Aggregate Savings Increases More Investment Higher per-capita Income Relative size of the working– age population increases Marginal Product of Capital Increases Knowledge for Development Program 2004

5 Women’s participation in public office tend to be associated with –Cleaner businesses and government –Less corruption Better governance and institutions tend to be associated with higher rates of economic growth Better Governance and Institutions Knowledge for Development Program 2004

6 Governance and Institutions Index of women’s economic and social rights Corruption Index Source: World Bank, 2001 Knowledge for Development Program 2004

Gender Inequality in the World Knowledge for Development Program 2004

8 Knowledge Economy Economy in which knowledge is the engine of growth Four Pillars of the Knowledge Economy  Economic incentive and institutional regime that provides incentives for the efficient use of existing and new knowledge and the flourishing of entrepreneurship  Educated, creative and skilled people  Dynamic information infrastructure  Effective national innovation system Knowledge Economy Framework Knowledge for Development Program 2004

9 KE Index with Gender Variables Knowledge for Development Program 2004

10 Gender Inequality in MENA Knowledge for Development Program 2004

ICT and Gender Inequality Knowledge for Development Program 2004

12 ICT: Economic Opportunity for MNA women New sector. No legacy from the past Women are by nature good at information aggregation; creation and dissemination Allows unemployed graduates to find a new niche in local creation in their field of expertise Allows work to be virtual. Can combine workforce in one location (childcare) or women can work in politically correct locations with the right tools, Infrastructure, and training Allows life long learning and re-skilling from home

13 ICT Entrepreneur Profile Great networker, Extrovert Dealer and wheeler Pushy/Aggressive ; marketeer Well connected to industry / practitioners Access to Finance and VC Travel; Partnerships, Participation in exhibits, events and conferences Enjoys Freedom of Expression

14 Channels via which ICT can improve gender in equality – Influencing public opinion on gender equality Web sites; news; networks; associations on line – Increasing women’s education Via access to public information on relevant topics without having to go through traditional channels – Allowing more economic opportunities for women 10 PERCENT OF OECD LABOR FORCE is employed in ICT SECTOR (directly and indirectly) ICT and Gender Inequality Knowledge for Development Program 2004

15 Influencing Public Opinion on Gender Equality – ICT increases flow of knowledge and information – Increases exposures of customs, norms and practices from other cultures and societies – Raises the awareness and informs the constituency of gender inequality issues, on injustices or flagrant system failures – Increases pressure on policymakers to include gender as an important component of their social and economic policies, and women as an important segment of their constituency ICT and Gender Inequality Knowledge for Development Program 2004

16 Increasing Women’s Education – Lack of schooling coupled with gender biases that dictate domestic roles for women tend to perpetuate gender disparities – ICT allow women to obtain and update their skills for equal participation in the knowledge economy Increasing access through distance learning Broadening the availability of quality educational materials Efficiency and Effectiveness of Educational Administration ICT and Gender Inequality Knowledge for Development Program 2004

17 Increasing Economic Opportunities for Women – ICTs allow women to telecommute and hence they are able to work and interact with men without face- to-face contact and even without being in the same place – ICTs allow micro and small enterprises (MSE), which are dominated by women, to compete and to partner in the marketplace –ICT allows women to save time and start valuing their own time –ICT saves on transportation time and hazards ICT and Gender Inequality Knowledge for Development Program 2004