## Lagarde: Women Can Help Grow the World Economy

_IMF Blog, September 23, 2013_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Lagarde: Women Can Help Grow the World Economy](https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2013/09/23/lagarde-women-can-help-grow-the-world-economy)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/blogs/articles/2013/09/23/lagarde-women-can-help-grow-the-world-economy/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/blogs/articles/2013/09/23/lagarde-women-can-help-grow-the-world-economy/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/blogs/articles/2013/09/23/lagarde-women-can-help-grow-the-world-economy/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Authors: in Japan by 9 percent, in the United States by 5 percent.
- Published: September 23, 2013

---

### Main findings from the IMF study "Women, Work, and the Economy"
- "Our latest study shows that despite some improvements, progress toward leveling the playing field for women has stalled," said Christine Lagarde.
- Only about half of women of working age are employed.
- If female labor force participation were raised to the same level as that of men:
  - GDP would expand by 12 percent in the United Arab Emirates.
  - GDP would expand by 9 percent in Japan.
  - GDP would expand by 5 percent in the United States.
- Women account for most unpaid work.
- When paid, women are overrepresented in the informal sector and among the poor.
- Women continue to be paid less than men for the same jobs.

### Identified obstacles to female labor force participation
- High share of unpaid work performed by women.
- Overrepresentation of women in the informal sector and among the poor.
- Gender pay gaps: women paid less than men for the same jobs.
- Fiscal and regulatory structures that discourage second earners from joining the labor force.

### Policy recommendations highlighted by Lagarde
- Reform government tax and spending policies as well as labor market regulation to boost female employment.
  - Example: "taxing individual rather than family income—which in many economies imposes a higher marginal tax on the second earner in households—would encourage women to seek employment."
- Link social benefits to participation in the workforce, training, or active labor market programs to increase female employment.
- Expand availability of good and affordable childcare.
- Increase opportunities for paternity and maternity leave.

### Context and outreach
- The IMF study was launched on the eve of Lagarde’s appearance on a panel in New York with Bill Clinton, Sheryl Sandberg, and Mo Ibrahim, as part of the Clinton Global Initiative.
- The blog post notes versions in Español and عربي.
- Publication date: September 23, 2013.

*IMF Blog — "Lagarde: Women Can Help Grow the World Economy", September 23, 2013.*

---

## Content in this bundle

- **Staff Discussion Note**
  - [Staff Discussion Note (Markdown version)](/external/pubs/ft/sdn/2013/sdn1310.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Staff Discussion Note (PDF)](/external/pubs/ft/sdn/2013/sdn1310.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

---

## References

- [عربي](http://blog-montada.imf.org/?p=2471)

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2013/09/23/lagarde-women-can-help-grow-the-world-economy_