The Gender Differences in School Enrolment and Returns to Education in Pakistan
Abstract
An analysis of gender disparity present with Pakistan and measures that could eliminate the discriminatory treatment for females.
The paper aims to analyze the gender disparity within educational sector of Pakistan by developing a correlation between educating males and females and their respective rates of return within the labor market. Mincerian model and Deolalikar model used to establish a correlation in enrollment rates and returns to schooling reveals that contrary to the popular notion returns to education for female are higher than for males. Statistics indicate that gender disparity is present at all levels of education despite higher rate of return for females which might be as a result of cultural values that create a higher dependency of parents on sons as opposed to daughters. Lack of educational opportunities for females at present would result in gender disparity ill effects to be passed onto the next generation creating a vicious cycle that could harm the economy. Education of both the parents’ impacts educational opportunities provided for girls whereas mother’s education significantly reduces the unequal treatment for girls. Another significant finding of the study is that the return on education increases with the level of education for both the genders; however the incremental return is higher for females than for males. However, this convexity might not be beneficial for the economy as a policies based on this convexity might create educational and earning differentials across families from different income groups.
Publishing Year: 2012
Attached File:
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