Score contribution per author:
α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count
Global gender gaps are commonly expected to gradually close along a deterministic path over time. This paper uses Markov chains as in Quah (1993) to simulate the future dynamic path of the global distribution of gender labor force participation gaps based on country data from the last 30 years. The simulations suggest that global gender gaps will never close. A large share of countries will feature elevated gaps in the long run owing to the potential for individual episodes of increasing gaps found in the data. Absent improved and strengthened policy measures, the observed waste and misallocation of women's skills and talents may persist indefinitely.