Female Participation Spillovers on Economic Growth: African Union ( AU ) Versus European Union ( EU )

ABSTRACT To evaluate the direct, spillover, and total effect of three types of female participation on economic growth, we analyzed 30 member states of AU and 27 member states of EU over the period of 2002–2023 due to data limitations. The analysis reveals that change in female participation in education and women in parliament has a positive significant direct effect in AU, while change in female participation in labor force has a positive significant direct effect in EU. Change in female labor force participation has no positive spillover effects in AU; it has positive spillover effects through the channels of physical capital and technology in EU. Change in female participation in education has positive spillover effects through the channels of physical capital and human capital in AU, while it has positive spillover effects through the channels of physical capital and technology in EU. Change in women in parliament has positive spillover effects through the channels of physical capital and human capital in AU, while it has no positive spillover effects in EU. The total effect of change in female participation in labor force and education in EU is positive significant, while the total effect of change in women in parliament is positive significant for both unions. The findings suggest that enhancing female participation may not only foster economic growth but also contribute to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG4 (Quality Education), SDG5 (Gender Equality), SDG8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).