1. Gender equality can boost economic growth
Prof. Louka T. Katseli, Director
OECD Development Centre
Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies
Istanbul  June 2007

2. Presentation Outline I Gender equality: Some trends II
Why focus on gender equality?
III
Understanding and measuring gender equality IV
Policy lessons

3. Gender equality is getting more and more attention…
Bangladeshi women take part in a protest demanding equal rights in Dhaka.
Photo: AFP

4. …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

5. But women in powerful positions 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!

6. I
Gender equality: Some trends II
Why focus on gender equality?
III
Understanding and measuring gender equality IV
Conclusions and Outlook

7. 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

8. A new trend in OECD countries: Employment and fertility can go together
Source: Babies and Bosses, OECD (2005) 8

9. In non-OECD countries: Lagging growth due to gender inequality
Growth effect of closing the gender gap in schooling. 1 2 3 4
Sub-Saharan Africa
South Asia
Middle East/North Africa
(percent)
Actual growth rate
Projected growth rate
Source: “Engendering Development” (PRR) 2001, in WDR 2000/01, “Attacking Poverty”.

10. I
Gender equality: Some trends II
Why focus on gender equality?
III
Understanding and measuring gender equality IV
Conclusions and Outlook

11. Gender equality has many dimensions…
…and also involves social institutions
Social Institutions
Health and Wellbeing
Educational Attainment
Political Empowerment
Economic Participation
Traditional Building Blocks
of Gender Equality

12. The OECD Data Base on Gender
GID-DB
The OECD Gender, Institutions and Development Data Base
…and its innovation:
Social Institutions’ Variables
Family Code
Physical Integrity
Civil Liberties
Ownership Rights

13. Gender inequality in social institutions
Elevated discrimination in social institutions
Moderate discrimination in social institutions
High discrimination in social institutions
Low discrimination in social institutions
Country not included in GID-DB
Women in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia face impediments to gender equality

14. …not necessarily associated with per capita income
Scale: 0 (minimum) to 1 (maximum) = level of discrimination through social institutions
Source: GID Database

15. I
Gender equality: Some trends II
Why focus on gender equality?
III
Understanding and measuring gender equality IV
Policy lessons

16. Policy lessons OECD countries: Non-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

17. For more information: