Macro determinants of women's poverty in the Southern European welfare regime

Women's poverty is a complex problem that is influenced by various structural factors, including gender inequality, access to educational and employment opportunities, and income inequality.In this context, the present study focuses on the macroeconomic determinants of women's poverty.In the developed panel data model, Southern European welfareregime countries, including Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Türkiye, are examined collectively.The model included the following independent variables: informal employment, education attainment, GDP per capita, and the Gini coefficient.The OLS, FMOLS, and IFE results demonstrated that women's poverty was positively correlated with informal employment and the Gini, as well as negatively correlated with educational attainment and GDP per capita.To elaborate, while informal employment and the Gini have been demonstrated to be associated with increased poverty among women, educational attainment and GDP per capita have been shown to have a negative correlation with poverty among women.The most salient conclusion derived from the research is that the prevalence of women's poverty is not merely an individual predicament experienced by women; rather, it is a systemic issue that poses a threat to social welfare, social justice, and sustainable development.In this regard, the struggle to eradicate women's poverty must be supported by educational initiatives, employment opportunities, social security programs, and policies promoting gender equality.The need for more inclusive, gendersensitive social policy designs has been identified as crucial to ensuring the protection and support of women, particularly within the context of the Southern European welfare regime.