The relationship between gender equality and development within the context of public policies

The relationship between gender equality and development has been argued over the last three decades by academicians, researchers, and policymakers. While many parts of the world have achieved significant progress towards gender equality and the empowerment of women, there are still many measures to be taken. Considering that approximately half of the world's population is women, it is not possible to reach the level of development and ensure its sustainability that is targeted by the plans, programs, projects, and policies overlooking the existence of women. Not only gender equality is a necessity for human development, but it is also considered as an inevitable requirement for economic development. Ensuring gender equality and empowerment of women and girls creates opportunities for equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes which facilitates constructing sustainable economies. In this way, it is possible to enhance productivity and to improve other development outcomes. It is not possible to achieve high-level socio-economic development and sustain that level without women. Therefore, it is a necessity to ensure gender equality and empower women in all societies. Governments and public policies designed in different forms play an important role in this process. The role of the state in the economy has changed many times since the 1930s. However, developments throughout the history of modern economics show that the economic and social outcomes of the market are not always efficient and equitable. While the role of the state in the economy varies from time to time, public policy intervention still remains important when the market fails. In this thesis, it is aimed to analyze the relationship between gender equality and development and to discuss the role of public policies in this relationship. For this purpose, the policy tools to be used by the governments in a gender-sensitive development process were evaluated and the importance of gender equality for development was analyzed empirically. The relationship between gender equality and development was analyzed with the panel data method using 36 OECD member countries' annual data for the period between 2010-2017. The development level has been evaluated separately in two dimensions as economic and human. In this context, the relationship between gender equality and development has been examined with two different models. The result of the test applied in order to determine which models should be used to analyze, it was found appropriate to analyze the relationship between gender equality and economic development using the Fixed Effects Model and the relationship between gender equality and human development using the Random Effects Model. Furthermore, 36 OECD member countries were divided into two groups according to their income levels, and the relationship between gender equality and economic development was reanalyzed for both country groups. Empirical evidence from the models covering 36 OECD member countries suggests that as gender equality increases in education, labor force participation and representation in parliament, the level of economic development increases. Similarly, gender equality in education, labor force participation and representation in parliament has a positive effect on human development; whereas the fertility rate has a negative effect on human development. However, from the models in which countries are divided into two income groups, different results were obtained for some explanatory variables. Keywords: Gender Equality, Development, Public Policies, Fiscal Policies, Panel Data Analysis.