Relevance of gender in the policy area

Gender is considered a relevant factor to overcome economic and financial crisis, and for the recovery of the economy. The promotion of gender equality will unleash the talents and capacities of women, which are needed to achieve the goals of sustainable growth. From a macroeconomic perspective, women’s inclusion in the labour market is relevant in terms of fostering economic growth. Looking at the performance of countries and regions, a clear strong positive correlation emerges between gender equality in the labour market and economic growth. The direction of causality goes mainly from economic growth to gender equality, but it is also true that full participation by women in the labour market supports GDP growth, as more (qualified) human resources are involved in the production system. Increased participation of women in the labour market will also mitigate the impact of the contraction of the labour force due to an ageing population, and will stimulate economic growth. Providing women with equal economic opportunities and unleashing the full potential of the female labour force, with significant prospective growth and welfare implications, will require an integrated set of policies to promote and support women’s employment. Research suggests that well-designed, comprehensive policies can be effective in boosting women’s economic opportunities and their actual economic participation. Implementing policies that remove labour market distortions and create a level playing field for all would help boost the demand for women’s labour.

Gender inequalities in the policy area – Main issues

• Gender implications in labour market policies and reforms
• Gender implications in fiscal policies
• Gender implications in pension policies and reforms

Current policy priorities

• Pursuing differentiated, growth-friendly fiscal consolidation restoring bank lending to the economy
• Promoting growth and competitiveness for now and in the future
• Tackling unemployment and the social consequences of the crisis