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Gender equality can boost economic growth
Prof. Louka T. Katseli, Director OECD Development Centre
Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies
Istanbul 27-30 June 2007
Presentation Outline
Gender equality: Some trendsI
Why focus on gender equality?II
Understanding and measuring gender equalityIII
Policy lessons IV
Gender equality is getting more and more attention…
Bangladeshi women take part in a protest demanding equal rights in Dhaka.
Photo: AFP
…and a voice
Women police officers in India have formed a national forum to fight sexual harassment and discrimination from their male colleagues.
Photo: BBC news
But women in powerfulpositions are still an exception…
Chile: M. Bachelet Finland: T. Halonen
Germany: A. Merkel
Liberia: E. Johnson Sirleaf
Out of 193 heads of state, only 23 are women!
Gender equality: Some trendsI
Why focus on gender equality?II
Understanding and measuring gender equalityIII
Conclusions and OutlookIV
Gender Equality: Intrinsic and instrumental values
• One of the Millennium Development Goals
• A potential driver for economic growth
• A double dividend for OECD countries
– increasing work force and improving demographics
• More sustainable growth in non-OECD countries
A new trend in OECD countries:Employment and fertility can go together
1980 2000
USA
SWE
SVK
PRT
POL
NZL
NOR
NLD
MEX
KOR
JPNITA
ISL
IRL
HUN
GBR
FRA
FIN
ESP
DNK
DEU
CZE
CHECAN
AUT
AUS
1.0
1.4
1.8
2.2
2.6
20 30 40 50 60 70Employment rates of women
Tot
al f
ertil
ity r
ate
USASWE
PRT
NZL
NLD
KOR
JPNITA
IRL
GRC
GBRFRA
FIN
ESP
DEU CHE
BEL
AUT
AUS
1.0
1.4
1.8
2.2
2.6
3.0
3.4
20 30 40 50 60Employment rates of women
Tot
al f
ertil
ity r
ate
Source: Babies and Bosses, OECD (2005)
In non-OECD countries: Lagging growth due to gender inequality
0
1
2
3
4
Sub-Saharan Africa South Asia Middle East/North Africa
(perc
en
t)
Actual growth rate
Projected growth rate
Source: “Engendering Development” (PRR) 2001, in WDR 2000/01, “Attacking Poverty”.
Growth effect of closing the gender gap in schooling.
Gender equality: Some trendsI
Why focus on gender equality?II
Understanding and measuring gender equalityIII
Conclusions and OutlookIV
Gender equality has many dimensions…
Traditional Building Blocksof Gender Equality
Political Empowerment
EducationalAttainment
Health and Wellbeing
SocialInstitutions
Economic Participation
…and also involves social institutions
The OECD Data Base on Gender
Social Institutions’ Variables • Family Code• Physical Integrity• Civil Liberties• Ownership Rights
GID-DBThe OECD Gender, Institutions
and Development Data Base
…and its innovation:
Gender inequality in social institutions
Women in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia face impediments to gender equality
Elevated discrimination in social institutionsModerate discrimination in social institutions
High discrimination in social institutions
Low discrimination in social institutions
Country not included in GID-DB
…not necessarily associated with per capita income
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
HIC (non OECD) LMC UMC HIC
Family Code Physical Integrity Civil Liberties Ownership Rights
Scale: 0 (minimum) to 1 (maximum) = level of discrimination through social institutionsSource: GID Database
Gender equality: Some trendsI
Why focus on gender equality?II
Understanding and measuring gender equalityIII
Policy lessons IV
Policy lessons
• OECD countries:
– Change mindsets – Allow for a better balance between family life and work– Specific instruments: taxes, allowances, leave provision
etc.
• Non-OECD countries:– Improve data collection and monitor progress– Better understand local specificities– Ensure effective design and implementation of laws– Strengthen the voice of women– Communicate benefits of reforms