The Impact of Financial Development and Quality of Institutions on Gender Inequality in Morocco

The cause-and-effect relationship between financial development, institutional quality, and gender inequality is always at the centre of debate among academic researchers and policymakers. This article aimed to analyse this relationship while highlighting the short- and long-term effects of financial development and institutional quality on gender inequalities in Morocco from 1990 to 2023 using the ARDL model. The findings reveal unidirectional causation from financial development and political institutions to gender inequalities. Furthermore, the estimated model’s results confirm that financial development contributes to reducing gender disparities, but only in the long term. Similarly, the quality of economic institutions diminishes gender gaps over time, while the quality of political institutions exacerbates these inequalities in the short term. This study highlights financial development as a mechanism through which policymakers can address gender disparities and foster a more equitable society. Additionally, it offers a novel dual perspective on the impact of institutional quality, encompassing both economic and political aspects, in the Moroccan context. These results underscore the need for targeted measures to address institutional gaps and promote sustainable and inclusive development.