This paper traces the human capital development of 14 Asian countries for
the period of 1900-60, using the age-heaping method. We place special
emphasis on the gender gap in numeracy and its determinants. In particular,
we test the validity of a ‘U-hypothesis of gender equality’, implying that
gender equality in numeracy declines at initial stages of development and
increases again with higher numeracy levels. The U-shaped pattern is
strongly confirmed by our data.