Author: Dr. Gariba and colleagues.
Women’s participation in politics and the persistence of income inequality have emerged as key issues in advanced economies. Across the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), policymakers and researchers are increasingly focused on how gender representation and equitable income distribution contribute to sustainable economic and social progress. Achieving long-term development requires integrating gender-inclusive governance with strategies that reduce inequality, ensuring that growth translates into improved well-being for all citizens. Despite extensive debate, the link between women in politics, income inequality, and overall well-being remains underexplored in current research.
This study aims to address that gap by examining how women’s political representation and income inequality influence the social and economic well-being of OECD countries. Using a robust empirical framework, the research evaluates whether greater participation of women in political decision-making can promote more inclusive and sustainable outcomes. The analysis also explores how disparities in income and poverty levels interact with gender dynamics to affect national prosperity and sustainability. This focus provides new insights into the intersection of governance, equality, and development.
Drawing on panel data from 2000 to 2020, the study employs a panel regression model with fixed effects to estimate the relationships among women in politics, income inequality, and indicators of social and economic well-being. This approach captures variations across countries and over time, ensuring reliable and nuanced results. The dataset covers a diverse range of OECD economies, allowing for meaningful comparisons and generalizable conclusions about the drivers of human development and sustainable growth in developed regions.
The findings reveal several important patterns. Contrary to expectations, women’s representation in politics does not show a statistically significant association with human development indices. However, the study identifies a positive and significant relationship between women in politics and two critical sustainability indicators, gross national savings and renewable energy supply. This suggests that female policymakers may play a more influential role in fostering long-term fiscal responsibility and promoting environmentally conscious policies. Additionally, the analysis confirms that income inequality and poverty exert significant negative effects on both social and economic well-being across OECD countries.
These results carry valuable implications for policymakers and international organizations. To advance sustainable development, OECD member states should continue promoting gender equality in political representation while implementing structural reforms to reduce income disparities. Encouraging women’s leadership in environmental and fiscal policymaking could strengthen progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to gender equality (SDG 5), reduced inequalities (SDG 10), and sustainable economic growth (SDG 8).
In conclusion, this study contributes to the growing body of literature on gender, inequality, and development by offering new evidence from OECD countries. It demonstrates that while women’s political participation alone may not directly enhance human development, it significantly supports broader sustainability initiatives. The findings emphasize that addressing income inequality and empowering women in governance are complementary strategies for achieving inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth in advanced economies.
Read the full article here to explore the detailed findings and their implications for both policymakers and practitioners.