child care – IMF Blog

5 Things You Need to Know About the IMF and Gender

IMFBlog2019-03-15T13:27:28-04:00November 22, 2017|

Woman engineer at work: The IMF’s research shows that countries can reap benefits from closing gender gaps (photo: nimis69/iStock by Getty Images)

By IMFBlog

November 22, 2017

Versions in عربي (Arabic), 中文(Chinese); Español (Spanish); Français (French); 日本語 (Japanese); Русский (Russian)

Women count. They contribute to society in every way, including as a crucial part of their countries’ economic growth and prosperity.

Not long ago, few people would have expected the International Monetary Fund to be engaged in work on gender inequality. We began by incorporating gender analysis and policy advice in our annual assessments of countries’ economies. Today, with some 30 gender consultations completed, and a dozen more planned, we have made a dent. But there is still a long way to go. […]

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Chart of the Week: Women Workers Wanted in Japan

IMFBlog2019-03-14T16:28:33-04:00November 21, 2017|

By IMFBlog

November 21, 2017

Versions in 中文(Chinese), 日本語 (Japanese)

A Japanese mother works at home with her child. Encouraging women to take on full time work and have children would help boost growth in Japan (photo: iStock by Getty Images).

Problem: Japan is the most aged society among advanced economies (almost 27 percent of its people are over 65). It also faces a shortage of labor (unemployment is just 2.8 percent). Both limit the country’s growth potential. […]

Every Woman Counts: Gender Budgeting in G7 Countries

IMFBlog2019-03-25T16:07:34-04:00May 13, 2017|

By Christine Lagarde

May 13, 2017

Versions in عربي (Arabic), 中文 (Chinese), Français (French), 本語 (Japanese), Русский (Russian), and Español (Spanish)

Finance ministers and central bank governors from the G7 countries met in Bari, Italy, this weekend to consider global economic issues, including steps to maintain economic stability and improving gender equality as important agenda items.

Women’s economic empowerment has long been an international priority, of course. The G6—as it was then—was first created in 1975, a year named “International Women’s Year” by the United Nations to help more women worldwide realize their full potential. Mountain climber Junko Tabei masterfully demonstrated this potential when she became the first woman to conquer Mount Everest in that year. However, as the world dealt with the aftermath of the first oil shock and the end of the fixed exchange rate system, global economic stability and women’s empowerment were rarely part of the same conversation.

Junko Tabei, the first woman to climb Mount Everest and the “Seven Summits”—the highest […]

Chart of the Week: More Women, More Growth

IMFBlog2019-03-26T11:37:23-04:00March 6, 2017|

By iMFdirect

International Women’s Day and the United States’ February jobs report are both coming up this week. So, we decided today’s chart should focus on women and work.

Around the world, women seeking employment face barriers—from legal hurdles to disincentives like lower wages. Leveling the playing field could bring significant benefits. […]

Growing Older: Germany Needs Reforms

IMFBlog2019-03-26T18:06:29-04:00June 29, 2016|

By Enrica Detragiache, Jean-Marc Natal, and Joana Pereira

Version in Deutsch (German)

Germany, a champion of structural reform prescriptions within the European Union, needs a large dose of the same medicine at home, too. Beyond public investment in transport and telecommunications, and more competition in services, dealing with an aging population needs urgent attention. With the right policies, Germany can bring more people into the workforce—and for longer—to counter the demographic trend, argues a recent study accompanying the regular health check of the German economy by the International Monetary Fund.

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Fair Play—Equal Laws for Equal Working Opportunity for Women

IMFBlog2017-04-14T01:46:01-04:00February 23, 2015|

By Christine Lagarde

(Versions in 中文, Français, 日本語, Русский, عربي and Español)

Leveling the legal playing field for women holds real promise for the world—in both human and economic terms. Unfortunately, that promise remains largely ignored and its potential untapped. In too many countries, too many legal restrictions conspire against women to be economically active—to work.

What can be done to remove these barriers? A new study done by IMF economists seeks to answer that question.

The bottom line? It’s about a fair, level playing field.

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What We Can Do To Improve Women’s Economic Opportunities

IMFBlog2017-04-15T13:56:19-04:00March 8, 2013|

On International Women's Day, the IMF's Managing Director celebrates the progress women have made and discusses how we can improve women's economic opportunities.