Gender and Property Rights: A Critical Issue in Urban Economic Development

Women have less access to shelter, income, water, food, education, and healthcare when compared to men, leading to what is often called the “feminization of poverty. The fundamental premise of this paper is that gender equality in property rights is critical not only as a human rights issue but also as a key driver of overall economic development, particularly in urban settings. While women make up 66 percent of the labor force in urban areas of developing countries, they account for only 10 percent of income. Research clearly shows that when women’s incomes go up, the additional income goes directly to increasing household consumption and therefore into the overall economy, while increases in men’s income more often go into personal consumption. In addition, it is well established that the availability of secure property rights drives economic development through investment in property improvements, increased manufacturing and purchasing on wholesale and retail markets, access to better employment opportunities, and improved health and education.