The gender innovation and research productivity gap in Europe Online publication date: Thu, 03-Sep-2009
by Ulrike Busolt, Kordula Kugele
International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development (IJISD), Vol. 4, No. 2/3, 2009
Abstract: Considering that the economic dimension of sustainable development relies on innovation, the under-representation of women in science and technology in the European Union is of special concern. Statistical analysis of patents shows that the low percentage of female researchers (an input indicator) within the EU Member States is accompanied by an even lower percentage of female inventors (an output indicator). We use a simple mathematical model to shed light on the relationships between these findings. The model has one parameter which represents the working conditions, e.g., the distribution of resources by gender. The model allows an estimation of the development of the input-output gap as well as the research productivity gap if the share of female researchers is increased without adequate resources. In this case, a productivity loss for the economy is to be expected.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development (IJISD):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com