The impact of Gender inequality on growth, fertility, and Labor Productivity in Iran

Using cross-provinces and panel regressions for the 2008-2012 period, this paper investigates to what extent gender inequality in general and its components, i.e. education and employment may affect growth and fertility, and labor productivity. The results suggest that gender inequality in education has a negative direct impact on economic growth through lowering the average quality of human capital. The paper finds a positive and significant relationship between gender inequality and fertility in Iranian provinces. Furthermore, gender inequality in education and inequality in labor market through decreasing the time allocated to market jobs, and increasing the time allocated to housework increase fertility rate. Finally, economic development through changing the social and cultural institutions will increase the labor force participation of women and decrease gender inequality in education, health .These changes tend to decrease fertility rate.
development through changing the social and cultural institutions will increase the labor force participation of women and decrease gender inequality in education, health .These changes tend to decrease fertility rate.