Reducing Gender Inequality in Education in Developing Countries: Do Information and Communication Technologies Matter?

ABSTRACT Women's access to education is a key factor in economic and social development and remains a major challenge for many governments and the international community. Although researchers have highlighted several key determinants of gender inequality, less is known about the contribution of information and communication technologies. This study assesses whether information and communication technologies can contribute to achieving gender equality in education. The study involves 64 developing countries and various econometric methods. It produces several results. First, information and communication technologies, measured by Internet and mobile phone diffusion, rebalance gender inequality in education. Improved diffusion of ICTs, all other things being equal, leads to improved gender equality in education. Second, the effect of information and communication technologies on gender inequality in primary education does not vary across different levels of gender inequality distribution, whereas the effect on gender inequality in secondary education varies slightly across different levels of gender inequality distribution. Third, there is a threshold of Internet and mobile phone penetration beyond which the effect of ICTs reverses. Beyond this threshold, ICTs tend to exacerbate gender inequality. Fourth, information and communication technologies interact with economic growth to reduce gender inequality. Policy implications of the results are discussed.