The Impact of Religion on Gender Gap in Adult Literacy in Developing Countries

Fangyao Liu, Xixi Feng

Abstract


Literacy measures human capital of a country, literacy rates are much lower in developing countries compared to developed countries, especially the gap in literacy rates between men and female. We examine the determinants of the gender gap in literacy rates in developing countries, particularly the relationship between religion and gender gap in literacy. From the empirical study, we show that Protestant and Islam increase the gender gap in literacy in developing countries controlling other factors.


Full Text:

PDF

References


Becker, S. O., & Woessmann, L. (2010). The effect of Protestantism on education before the industrialization: Evidence from 1816 Prussia. Economics Letters, 107(2), 224-228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econlet.2010.01.031

Borooah, V. K., & Iyer, S. (2005). Vidya, Veda, and Varna: The influence of religion and caste on education in rural India. The Journal of Development Studies, 41(8), 1369-1404. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220380500186960

Chaudhary, L., & Rubin, J. (2011). Reading, writing, and religion: Institutions and human capital formation. Journal of Comparative Economics, 39(1), 17-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jce.2010.06.001

Cooray, A., & Potrafke, N. (2011). Gender inequality in education: Political institutions or culture and religion?. European Journal of Political Economy, 27(2), 268-280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2010.08.004

Halder, S. (2012). Literacy Progression of Women in Developing Countries of South-East Asia with Special Reference to West Bengal, India. Asia Pacific Journal of Social Sciences, 4(2), 88-107.

Mazumdar, K. (2005). Socio-economic factors determining adult literacy in developing countries. International Journal of Social Economics, 32(1/2), 98-120. https://doi.org/10.1108/03068290510575667

Norton, S. W., & Tomal, A. (2009). Religion and female educational attainment. Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, 41(5), 961-986. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1538-4616.2009.00240.x

Okpala, A., & Okpala, C. (2009). Economics & religious implications on adult literacy in sub-Saharan Africa. The Journal of Applied Business Research, 25(1), 83-90.

Sundaram, A., & Vanneman, R. (2008). Gender differentials in literacy in India: The intriguing relationship with women's labor force participation. World Development, 36(1), 128-143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2007.02.017

Verner, D. (2005). What factors influence world literacy? is Africa different?. The World Bank. https://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-3496




DOI: https://doi.org/10.5296/jad.v5i2.14069

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.




Copyright (c) Journal of Asian Development



Journal of Asian Development  ISSN 2377-9594   E-mail: jad@macrothink.org

Copyright © Macrothink Institute 

To make sure that you can receive messages from us, please add the 'macrothink.org' domains to your e-mail 'safe list'. If you do not receive e-mail in your 'inbox', please check your 'spam' or 'junk' folder.