Rise of Women in Unified Growth Theory: French Development Process and Policy Implications

Rise of Women, industrialization and demographic transition are integral components in a nation’s development. We posit a two-sector unified growth model with endogenous female empowerment to study the interrelationship between women and development. Female empowerment would hamper fertility, lower agricultural employment share, and decelerate development; development that checks fertility would raise female labor-force participation and women’s (economic) power. Our model reconciles French development process during AD1400-AD2100, including women’s distinctive fall-and-rise socio-economic status, absence of a Post-Malthusian regime, fertility control and innovation’s roles in modern growth. We also study the implications for policies promoting gender equality and innovation in Madagascar today.