Sustainability and Equality: How Does Energy Legislation Influence Women's Empowerment?

ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of energy legislation on women's empowerment. It uses panel data from 164 countries between 2000 and 2022 and applies the system GMM estimation method. The results demonstrate that energy legislation significantly promotes women's education, employment, entrepreneurship, and political participation, primarily by improving the energy supply and increasing the use of renewable energy. Notably, compulsory legislative acts are more effective than executive orders, and financial incentives are more influential than governance regulations. The analysis also reveals substantial heterogeneity; the positive impacts are particularly pronounced in developing countries and Hindu and Islamic societies, where structural barriers to gender equality are more prevalent. These results underscore the critical role of effective energy policies in promoting women's empowerment worldwide.