The Status of Women and the Quality of Life in Developing Societies

Authors: Cal Clark; Janet Clark

Source: Perspectives on Global Development and Technology, Volume 3, Number 4, 2004 , pp. 451-469(19)

Publisher: BRILL

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Abstract:

This paper applies aggregate data analysis to explore the relationships among the economic development level, the status of women, and the quality of life in developing societies. In particular, it tests the hypothesis that the status of women is positively related to the quality of life even after the effects of economic growth and development are statistically controlled. Our analysis strongly confirms this hypothesis since the status of women in a society appears to rival the economic development level for explaining how good or ill is the quality of life enjoyed by its citizens. We undertook this study from the theoretical perspective that questions conceptualizing and measuring development simply in terms of the level and growth of GNP per capita. Rather, the social needs and quality of life in a society, the presumed consequences of development, are important as well.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1569150042728875

Publication date: 2004-01-01