The Effect of Gender Inequality in Employment and Education On Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

The linkage between gender inequality in education and employment and its impacts on economic growth has not been extensively discussed among scholars in SSA. The primary focus in literature has been based on the role that gender inequality in education plays in influencing economic growth in Sub Saharan Africa. With this, the precise association between education and employment inequality on economic growth need to be investigated empirically in SSA. This study therefore uses a balanced panel data on twenty- eight (28) selected SSA countries to explore the impact of gender inequality in education and employment on economic growth in SSA for the period 2005 to 2017. Employing Two step system-GMM estimation technique together with Pedroni and Kao cointegration tests, this study establishes a long-run relationship among the sample variables used. In addition, the GMM results show that the gap in education influences employment inequality to have a negative impact on economic growth in SSA. As a result, this study suggests that gender inequality in secondary and tertiary education should be of a prime focus in mainstream policy and public dialogue in SSA.