Selected Issues Papers

Unlocking the Work Force Potential: Empowering Women to Boost Economic Growth and Greek Prosperity

By Julia Cots-Capell, Larry Q Cui, Diego B. P. Gomes, Duncan MacDonald, Celine Thevenot, Katherine Dai

May 9, 2025

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Format: Chicago

Julia Cots-Capell, Larry Q Cui, Diego B. P. Gomes, Duncan MacDonald, Celine Thevenot, and Katherine Dai. "Unlocking the Work Force Potential: Empowering Women to Boost Economic Growth and Greek Prosperity", Selected Issues Papers 2025, 056 (2025), accessed June 19, 2025, https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229010818.018

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Summary

The strong recent economic recovery has improved Greece’s near-term outlook. However, unfavorable demographics require raising the labor force participation, particularly for women, to boost medium-term growth. Using household survey, cross-country comparison, and model simulations, we identify three main constraints: (i) care responsibilities; (ii) skill mismatches; and (iii) tax-benefit work incentives. Estimates suggest that addressing care responsibilities alone could boost employment by 3 percent. Policy recommendations include expanding access to childcare facilities, improving parental leave policies, strengthening tax-benefit incentives, and addressing skill mismatches. These measures, combined with complementary reforms could significantly empower women to boost economic growth and prosperity in Greece.

Subject: Employment, Gender, Labor, Labor force, Labor markets, Wages, Women

Keywords: Employment, Female Labor Participation, Global, Greece, Greece authorities, IMF staff calculation, Labor force, Labor markets, Near-term outlook, Parental leave policy, Prosperity in Greece, Structural Reform, Tax Benefit Simulation, Tax-benefit work incentive, Wages, Women

Publication Details

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