Gender and economic growth: Is there a correlation? The example of Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

The article is focused on the study of gender equality issues as a necessary factor in the economic growth of the state. The work notes that the economic growth is traditionally considered as an important quantitative characteristic of the development in a country’s economic system, but this concept is complex and multifaceted, which makes it difficult to assess its scale, factors, sources and consequences. Therefore, through a theoretical analysis, the author identified main factors of the influence on country’s economic growth. Also, on the basis of an analytical review in relevant sources in this area, the current situation of women in the society was examined and the examples of state programs for ensuring gender equality in all social sectors of state functioning were given. In consideration of the foreign and the internal experience in strategy for gender equality achievement in the society, as well as conditions and factors of the economic growth in Kyrgyzstan, comparative analysis of key indicators of given categories was carried out in order to determine the existence of correlations between the studied concepts. As a result of research, the author proposed perspective directions of perfection in the existing system for gender equality ensuring in Kyrgyzstan with the aim of achieving a new level of country’s economic development.