Gender and Macroeconomic Policy (Directions in Development) (Directions in Development - Human Development) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0821374346 ISBN 13: 9780821374344

Publisher: World Bank Publications, 2008

Synopsis

Mainstream economic analysis has traditionally overlooked gender. The individual-the basic category of analysis-was regarded as genderless. Neither gender discrimination nor segmentation and segregation within the labor market or within the household was present. Contributions from development theory, new household economics (NHE), labor economics, and feminist analysis have done much to change this. Focusing on gender equality-by which we mean equality in opportunity, inputs, and outcome-has yielded important insights for the growth and development of an economy. But we are still at the cusp. While there have been huge improvements in recognizing gender as an analytical category at the microeconomic level, the macroeconomic implications of gender equality remain undeveloped. Engendering macroeconomics is an important and valid research and policy area. Over the past three decades, economic development has generally affected women differently than men in the developing world. At the same time, gender relations have affected macroeconomic outcomes. This volume examines the research and policy implications of engendering macroeconomic policy.

About this title

Synopsis

Gender refers to the social meanings given to biological differences between the sexes and is therefore shaped by the mores and norms of every culture. But gender extends beyond ideology and culture into the realm of economics. Mainstream economic analysis, however, has not taken gender into account since the individual as the basic unit of analysis is assumed to have no gender and is expected to behave in a utility-maximizing rational manner. Over the last few decades however, gender as a category of analysis has yielded important insights into the growth and development of an economy.This book examines the reasons for and approaches to "engendering" macroeconomic theory and policy, beginning with a brief history of how gender came to become an analytical category in economics. Recognizing that globalization and macroeconomic policies, such as government spending, taxation, interest rates, exchange rates, subsidized micro finance, and privatization of public services, appear to have a differential impact on men and women, the book explores the collection and use of gender-disaggregated statistics for macroeconomic policy making.

Edition details

• Publisher: World Bank Publications
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0821374346
• ISBN 13: 9780821374344
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 184