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Gender inequality, growth and global ageing

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Global Economics Paper No. 154
Author: 
Daly, Kevin
Format: 
Report
Publication Date: 
3 Apr 2007
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Excerpts from the report: - Reducing gender inequality could play a key role in addressing the twin problems of population ageing and pension sustainability. In countries where it is relatively easy for women to work and have children, female employment and fertility both tend to be higher. - Economies where the problem of population ageing is most acute &em; such as Japan and Italy &em; also tend to be those where female employment is lowest. - Closing the gap between male and female employment would have huge economic implications for the global economy, boosting US GDP by as much as 9%, Eurozone GDP by 13% and Japanese GDP by 16%. - A reduction in the male-female employment gap has already been an important driver of European growth and Europe is best placed to benefit over the next 10 years. Japan has the biggest potential windfall but has made little progress in the past 10 years. The US has the smallest gender gap of the G3, but this gap has risen in the past 10 years. - Governments could do much more to narrow the gender employment gap: reducing tax distortions that discourage female employment, eliminating differences in retirement policies and subsidising childcare are three obvious examples. - The rise in female employment has important implications for equity market performance. We highlight 30 stocks that are benefiting from higher disposable income growth among women.

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