Gender and innovation: the role of gender balance in Finnish product innovation

Abstract

Innovation and the ability of businesses to innovate are crucial for economic development. Environmental and temporal changes require adaption: efficient industrial production responds to the prevailing needs and demands of the society. People in certain innovative professions have power over which new products and services are brought to markets in the form of innovations. These innovative occupations also have one of the highest labor market gender gaps: women are highly underrepresented among innovators. With a background literature review and econometric research methods, this thesis studies the impact of gender distribution in different occupational titles on innovative characteristics of production. Using production statistics and employment information together, I find positive associations between a higher gender balance and innovative activity in Finnish establishments.

This thesis has partly been completed as a part of Women in Science and Technology (WINST) research project (FORTE grant no. 2021-01552_3) led by prof. Otto Toivanen and Ari Hyytinen.