Comparing Global Gender Inequality Indices: How Well Do They Measure the Economic Dimension?

Nour Barnat ,Stephen Macfeely ,Anu Peltola

doi:10.20900/jsr20190016

Abstract

Economic empowerment is a relative latecomer to the gender equality discussion, and to the global development agenda. This paper presents a comparative study of selected global gender inequality indices: The Global Gender Gap Index (GGI); the Gender Inequality Index (GII); and the Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI). The purpose of the study is to analyse the proportion of variation explained by economic conditions in these gender equality indices. A Principal Component Analysis approach is used to identify the most important factors or dimensions, such as, health, social conditions and education, economic and labour participation and political empowerment that impact on gender and drive gender inequality. These factors are compared with the Sustainable Development Goal targets to assess how well they align. The findings show that while economic participation and empowerment are significant factors of gender equality, they are not yet fully considered by gender equality indices which mainly focus on labour force participation. In this context, the paper also discusses the absence of international trade, a key driver of economic development, from the gender equality measures and makes some tentative recommendations for how this lacuna might be addressed in existing or future composite indices.

Highlights

Gender equality can be said to have been achieved when women and men enjoy the same rights and opportunities across all aspects of life, including social interactions, economic participation and decision-making, and when the different behaviours, aspirations and needs of women and men are valued and favoured
This paper presents a comparative study of three global gender inequality indices: The Global Gender Gap Index (GGI); the Gender Inequality Index (GII); and the Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI)
The analyses presented in this paper suggests that inequality measured in the three composite indicators can be reduced to four main clusters that are of central importance to achieving gender equality, namely: Principal Component 1 (PC1)— Education & social conditions; PC2—Economic and labour market participation; PC3—Political empowerment; and PC4—Health

Summary

Introduction

Gender equality can be said to have been achieved when women and men enjoy the same rights and opportunities across all aspects of life, including social interactions, economic participation and decision-making, and when the different behaviours, aspirations and needs of women and men are valued and favoured. A range of composite indices have been developed by various organisations in an attempt to measure and quantify these complex issues. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (hereafter the 2030 Agenda) contains over 80 gender-relevant indicators including a specific goal on gender equality. The purpose is to analyse the proportion of variation explained by economic aspects in these gender equality indices. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) approach is used to identify the most important factors or dimensions, such as, health, social conditions and education, economic and labour participation and political empowerment that impact on gender and drive gender inequality

Objectives

Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion