The impact of women’s economic empowerment on human development in sub-Saharan Africa: A panel quantile regression approach

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18559/ebr.2025.1.1698

Keywords:

sub-Saharan Africa, women's economic empowerment, human development, panel quantile regression, gender equality

Abstract

This paper uses a panel quantile regression approach to study the economic empowerment of women in sub-Sa­haran Africa and how it impacts human development. Analysing data collected from 42 countries covering the period 2000–2023, the study looks at various indicators of women’s economic empowerment. The impacts of wom­en’s economic empowerment are found to differ depending on quantile levels; female entrepreneurship shows a sig­nificant impact only at higher levels. Across all levels, mar­riage rights and workplace participation repeatedly show positive impacts. The Gender Development Index’s signifi­cant positive impact underscores the importance of gender equality for overall human development. Parenting rights and mobility show positive results at most levels, though there are some variations.

 

JEL Classification

Panel Data Models • Spatio-temporal Models (C23)
Economics of Gender • Non-labor Discrimination (J16)
Human Resources • Human Development • Income Distribution • Migration (O15)
Africa (O55)

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Published

2025-03-31

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Research article- regular issue

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Copyright (c) 2025 Lotfi Mekhzoumi, Sabrina Chikh-Amnache, Nabila Mekhzoumi

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Mekhzoumi, L., Chikh-Amnache, S., & Mekhzoumi, N. (2025). The impact of women’s economic empowerment on human development in sub-Saharan Africa: A panel quantile regression approach. Economics and Business Review, 11(1), 55-81. https://doi.org/10.18559/ebr.2025.1.1698

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