A diol from which a resin material having high processability and a high refractive index can be manufactured, a polycarbonate resin and a polyester resin which is a polymer of the diol, and a molded article and an optical element formed of the polymer. The diol is represented by the general formula (1) shown below; the polycarbonate resin and the polyester resin are polymers thereof; and the molded article and the optical element are formed of the polymers, wherein R1 and R2 each independently denote one of a hydrogen atom and an alkyl group having 1 or more and 6 or less carbon atoms; Q denotes one of an oxyethylene group, a thioethylene group and a single bond.