Uncertainty and gender inequality: A global investigation

Abstract

There is increasing interest in the consequences of uncertainty, yet research on its effects on gender equality is scarce. This study investigates the impact of uncertainty on gender inequality using a sample of 100 countries over the period 1991–2017. The analysis is carried out for 22 indicators of gender inequality in four dimensions (employment, health, education, rights) and five uncertainties (domestic uncertainty, world uncertainty, world trade uncertainty, global economic policy uncertainty, geopolitical risk). First, uncertainty appears to increase gender inequality in employment by affecting vulnerable employment, unemployment, and self-employment; and by reducing waged and salaried employment, numbers of contributing family workers, labour force participation, and employment in industry and services. Second, uncertainty is found to be very harmful in its effect on gender equality in health, as it decreases life expectancy and survival to age 65, and increases the mortality of women. Third, uncertainty improves gender equality in education, as it increases school enrolment at primary and tertiary levels. Fourth, uncertainty improves the Women, Business and the Law Index, but has mixed effects on women’s economic, political, and social rights.