Influence of Women Head of Government on the Human Capital of Women in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to explore the influence of women heads of government on human capital development and gender inequality, specifically focusing on education and health in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam from 1991 to 2021. Despite the increasing presence of women in leadership roles globally, their impact on human capital indicators remains underexplored. Methodology: To investigate this, the research employs a comparative approach that includes the Levin-Lin Chu Test, Im-Pesaran-Shin Test, Fixed Effects, Random Effects, and Ordinary Least Squares to analyze data from countries with female leaders and evaluate changes in educational attainment and health outcomes during their tenures. Findings: The findings reveal that while higher educational attainment among women and increased representation of women in political leadership do not automatically result in greater labor force participation, female life expectancy has a significant and positive effect on female labor force participation (FLFP), indicating that healthier women are more likely to engage in the workforce. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy This research uniquely contributes to understanding the role of female leadership in fostering inclusive growth and emphasizes the importance of gender representation in political leadership for advancing human capital.