ECONOMIC GROWTH IN A GENDER-RESPONSIVE WAY: AN INVESTIGATION FOR COUNTRY GROUPS BASED ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX

The impact of gender norms on the national economy is an area that has been overlooked in extant literature. Since there has been a paucity of evaluation of gender and gender equality from an economic growth perspective, compared to the extensive literature on gender and gender equality, this study investigates gender-responsive economic growth within the framework of the classification created within the scope of the human development index. The study analyses the relationship between human development and gender-related indices at four different levels of development. The relationship is analyzed using a panel data analysis method with data from 1995-2021. The study finds that the variables that increase economic growth in the four country groups are the gender-related development index and labor force participation rate. In contrast, the gender inequality index decreases economic growth in almost every country. The present study's findings indicate a relationship between gender-related index (i.e., independent variables) and economic growth. It is suggested that advances in gender equality are a prerequisite for attaining systematic economic growth.