Transcript
Page 1: Gender equality can boost economic growth Prof. Louka T. Katseli, Director OECD Development Centre Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies Istanbul

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

Page 2: Gender equality can boost economic growth Prof. Louka T. Katseli, Director OECD Development Centre Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies Istanbul

Presentation Outline

Gender equality: Some trendsI

Why focus on gender equality?II

Understanding and measuring gender equalityIII

Policy lessons IV

Page 3: Gender equality can boost economic growth Prof. Louka T. Katseli, Director OECD Development Centre Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies Istanbul

Gender equality is getting more and more attention…

Bangladeshi women take part in a protest demanding equal rights in Dhaka.

Photo: AFP

Page 4: Gender equality can boost economic growth Prof. Louka T. Katseli, Director OECD Development Centre Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies Istanbul

…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

Page 5: Gender equality can boost economic growth Prof. Louka T. Katseli, Director OECD Development Centre Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies Istanbul

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!

Page 6: Gender equality can boost economic growth Prof. Louka T. Katseli, Director OECD Development Centre Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies Istanbul

Gender equality: Some trendsI

Why focus on gender equality?II

Understanding and measuring gender equalityIII

Conclusions and OutlookIV

Page 7: Gender equality can boost economic growth Prof. Louka T. Katseli, Director OECD Development Centre Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies Istanbul

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

Page 8: Gender equality can boost economic growth Prof. Louka T. Katseli, Director OECD Development Centre Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies Istanbul

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)

Page 9: Gender equality can boost economic growth Prof. Louka T. Katseli, Director OECD Development Centre Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies Istanbul

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.

Page 10: Gender equality can boost economic growth Prof. Louka T. Katseli, Director OECD Development Centre Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies Istanbul

Gender equality: Some trendsI

Why focus on gender equality?II

Understanding and measuring gender equalityIII

Conclusions and OutlookIV

Page 11: Gender equality can boost economic growth Prof. Louka T. Katseli, Director OECD Development Centre Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies Istanbul

Gender equality has many dimensions…

Traditional Building Blocksof Gender Equality

Political Empowerment

EducationalAttainment

Health and Wellbeing

SocialInstitutions

Economic Participation

…and also involves social institutions

Page 12: Gender equality can boost economic growth Prof. Louka T. Katseli, Director OECD Development Centre Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies Istanbul

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:

Page 13: Gender equality can boost economic growth Prof. Louka T. Katseli, Director OECD Development Centre Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies Istanbul

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

Page 14: Gender equality can boost economic growth Prof. Louka T. Katseli, Director OECD Development Centre Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies Istanbul

…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

Page 15: Gender equality can boost economic growth Prof. Louka T. Katseli, Director OECD Development Centre Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies Istanbul

Gender equality: Some trendsI

Why focus on gender equality?II

Understanding and measuring gender equalityIII

Policy lessons IV

Page 16: Gender equality can boost economic growth Prof. Louka T. Katseli, Director OECD Development Centre Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies Istanbul

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

Page 17: Gender equality can boost economic growth Prof. Louka T. Katseli, Director OECD Development Centre Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies Istanbul

For more information:www.oecd.org/dev/gender


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