Women's education in developing countries : barriers, benefits and policy
King, Elizabeth M. | Hill, M. Anne [editors] | Population and Human Resources Department
This collection of papers compiles more recent data on the status of women's education in the developing world, organized by region, and links this information to development indicators, including income per capita, mortality rates, life expectancy, and fertility decline. It revisits questions pertaining to the factors that have slowed down educational progress for women, and reviews the findings of more recent social science research, with a focus on available quantitative studies. The volume also examines the gains from women's education for family welfare and development. In addition to a review of the literature on the impact of women's education on child and maternal health, fertility, investments in education of their children, and on their labor supply and earnings, the volume investigates some of these relationships using country-level data. The estimates reveal that the amount of education women receive is a significant factor determining economic growth and the quality of life of their families, and that gender disparities in education imply significant losses in national welfare. The gender gap in education is worthy of attention not only because of equity considerations but also because of its consequences for development. Finally, the volume reviews policy reforms and interventions by governments, donor agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) aimed at improving females' education in various parts of the world.
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