Economic Uncertainty and Gender Gap in Jordan: Macroeconomic Perspective

This study investigated the relationship between economic uncertainty and gender inequality in Jordan from a macroeconomic perspective. Using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model, this study analyzes the short-run and long-run relationships between macroeconomic variables, namely economic growth, inflation, unemployment, and global uncertainty, and their association with gender inequality measured by the gender inequality index (GII). The data obtained were from 1990 to 2025. The results suggest the existence of a long-run association between gender inequality and the examined macroeconomic variables. The results indicate that economic growth is associated with lower gender inequality, possibly through improved employment opportunities and greater economic participation among women. Conversely, the results indicate that inflation and unemployment are associated with higher gender inequality, which may reflect the greater economic pressures faced by women, particularly those engaged in vulnerable employment sectors. Furthermore, while the world uncertainty index was not statistically significant as a direct determinant of gender inequality, the findings suggest that potential indirect channels related to labor markets and investment may warrant further investigation. Additionally, the error correction mechanism indicates an adjustment process toward the long-run relationship following short-run deviations. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of promoting inclusive economic growth, strengthening social protection systems, reducing unemployment among women, and supporting policies that enhance women’s economic empowerment and labor market participation in Jordan.