Abstract:

In recent years, a large number of studies have been made about women’s employment but no study has been met about the effect of women’s employment on competitiveness and economic growth. In this study, the effect of women’s employment on competitiveness and economic growth has been compared between the most competitive countries according to the data of International Institute for Management Development (IMD) and Turkey. The main hypothesis of the study is that “women’s participation in employment would have positive effects on competitiveness and economic growth”. According to the results of the analyses made, while in more competitive countries female labor force participation affects competitiveness positively, in all of the countries discussed and in less competitive countries the effect of female labor force participation on competitiveness is concluded to be insignificant. Female labor force participation positively affects economic growth in all these groups.

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