Promoting gender equality through leveraging the Women, Business, and the Law index: A comparative analysis of high- and low-income countries

Abstract

Background: Gender equality and the empowerment of women are imperative for inclusive and sustainable development. Despite the fact that the Women, Business, and the Law (WBL) Index provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating legal progress towards gender equality, there is a paucity of research on how key influencing factors vary across economic contexts. Research objectives: The present study aims to examine the influence of asset accessibility, workplace conditions, mobility rights, pay equality, entrepreneurial opportunities, and safety on WBL index scores in high- and low-income countries. The present analysis aims to address the research gap concerning the differential impact of these variables in diverse economic environments. Research design and methods: Multiple linear regression analysis was employed using data from countries classified by income level. The WBL index functioned as the dependent variable, with the influence of six predictor variables on gender equality outcomes being assessed. Results: The findings suggest that pay equality and mobility rights have a greater impact in low-income countries, while safety, workplace conditions, and entrepreneurial opportunities play a more significant role in high-income countries. These results emphasize the necessity of adapting gender equality policies to particular economic contexts. Conclusions: The study emphasizes the importance of context-specific approaches to the promotion of gender equality. In low-income countries, efforts should be concentrated on the improvement of legal rights related to remuneration and mobility. In high-income countries, efforts should be concentrated on enhancing workplace conditions, improving safety, and fostering women's entrepreneurship. The study also identifies common areas for improvement across both contexts to support global gender equality initiatives.