Brief: Gender Inequality Causes Poverty

Description

This briefer asserts that there is a strong causal relationship between gender equality and prosperity. In international rankings, such as the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report, the countries where women have the fewest freedoms, including economic rights, are also shown to be the poorest and most conflict-ridden in the world. 

The evidence all points in the same direction: that unequal conditions for women and girls are a causal contributor to poverty and suffering around the world. 

The research on gender inequality in emerging markets comes from several different disciplines and policy areas. Taken as a whole, however, the literature converges on a clear conclusion: gender inequality is not a symptom of poverty, but a fundamental cause of poverty.