{
  "title": "Gender Equality in Iceland – IMF Finance & Development Magazine | March 2019",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fandd/issues/2019/03/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir",
  "canonical": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fandd/issues/2019/03/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir",
  "overlayPath": "/en/publications/fandd/issues/2019/03/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir/index.md",
  "summary": "Iceland’s prime minister discusses what gender means for rethinking the economy",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Context and framing",
      "content": "- Policymakers are shifting focus from raw GDP-driven measurements toward well-being criteria when judging economic success.\n- Iceland has made gender equality a core part of its domestic and foreign policies, linking progressive social justice policies to economic performance.\n- The campaign for women’s equality in Iceland has combined legislative changes (sexual and reproductive freedoms), robust equality laws, and gender quotas for corporate boards with social-policy interventions."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Family-friendly policies implemented",
      "content": "- Universal childcare and shared parental leave are central policy instruments.\n- Icelandic parental leave model (funded by government and businesses):\n  - Three months of leave to each parent.\n  - An additional three months that can be divided between the parents however they choose.\n- The model has been implemented in stages since 2000.\n- Publicly funded, high-quality day care now starts at the age of two, with gaps largely covered by subsidized childminders.\n- Nordic shared parental leave schemes include a \"use-it-or-lose-it\" portion for both parents (including same-sex couples and adoptive parents).\n- The government intends to extend the current entitlement further and to close gaps between parental leave and public day care provision."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Economic and social impacts observed",
      "content": "- The combination of universal childcare and shared parental leave has:\n  - Transformed Icelandic society and boosted the economy.\n  - Shifted norms so families consider parental duties and care the equal responsibility of both parents.\n  - Enabled fathers to form better relationships with their children.\n  - Undermined the argument that women cannot be hired or promoted because they will “drop out” of the labor market.\n- Labor market participation and unemployment:\n  - Women’s labor force participation is around 80 percent.\n  - Men’s labor force participation is 87 percent.\n  - The unemployment rate is 2.9 percent.\n- The extensive economic activity of all genders is identified as a key ingredient in Iceland’s economy."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Persistent challenges and limitations",
      "content": "- The gender pay gap still exists.\n- Jobs typically held by women remain undervalued and underpaid.\n- The labor market remains far too gender-segregated.\n- Violence and harassment have not been eradicated.\n- Children continue to be subjected to gender stereotypes.\n- Full equality of rights and opportunities has not been achieved despite progress."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Analytical points and normative stance",
      "content": "- Conventional economic dualism (expenses vs. investment) undervalues social infrastructure compared with physical infrastructure.\n- Social infrastructure (education, childcare, health care) is essential and complementary to physical infrastructure for societal development.\n- High childcare costs force mothers in lower-income groups to choose between family and work, perpetuating the gender pay gap.\n- Family-friendly policies should be seen as integral to building a society where everyone can flourish, not as luxuries or profligate public spending."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Policy implications and recommendations",
      "content": "- Continue expanding universal childcare and shared parental leave, including further entitlement extensions and aligning leave with public day care provision.\n- Treat social infrastructure spending as investment in societal capacity and economic inclusion, not merely operating costs.\n- Promote ideological vision, political struggle, and coordinated action by governments, businesses, and social groups to advance gender equality.\n- Forge ahead with progressive economic policies that challenge stereotypes about costs and benefits and prioritize gender equality within a broader well-being and sustainability agenda (including participation in the group of Wellbeing Economy Governments).\n\nSource: Gender Equality in Iceland — IMF Finance & Development Magazine | March 2019\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- وجهة نظر\n  - وجهة نظر (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - وجهة نظر (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n- Construir una economía inclusiva ● Finanzas y Desarrollo ● Marzo de 2019\n  - Construir una economía inclusiva ● Finanzas y Desarrollo ● Marzo de 2019 (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - Construir una economía inclusiva ● Finanzas y Desarrollo ● Marzo de 2019 (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n- Plaidoyer pour une économie inclusive\n  - Plaidoyer pour une économie inclusive (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - Plaidoyer pour une économie inclusive (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n- Building an Inclusive Economy\n  - Building an Inclusive Economy (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - Building an Inclusive Economy (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n- 誰もが輝ける経済を築く; カトリーン・ヤコブスドッティル, ファイナンス＆ディベロップメント2019年3月号\n  - 誰もが輝ける経済を築く; カトリーン・ヤコブスドッティル, ファイナンス＆ディベロップメント2019年3月号 (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - 誰もが輝ける経済を築く; カトリーン・ヤコブスドッティル, ファイナンス＆ディベロップメント2019年3月号 (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n- Создание инклюзивной экономики – Финансы и развитие – март 2019 года\n  - Создание инклюзивной экономики – Финансы и развитие – март 2019 года (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - Создание инклюзивной экономики – Финансы и развитие – март 2019 года (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n- 建立包容性经济 - 观点 - 金融与发展\n  - 建立包容性经济 - 观点 - 金融与发展 (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - 建立包容性经济 - 观点 - 金融与发展 (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n\n---\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fandd/issues/2019/03/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir"
    }
  ],
  "bullets": [
    "[Markdown version](/en/publications/fandd/issues/2019/03/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir/index.md)",
    "[Structured JSON version](/en/publications/fandd/issues/2019/03/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir/index.json)",
    "[Bundle manifest](/en/publications/fandd/issues/2019/03/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir/bundle-manifest.json)",
    "Authors: Katrin Jakobsdottir",
    "Published: March 1, 2019",
    "Policymakers are shifting focus from raw GDP-driven measurements toward well-being criteria when judging economic success.",
    "Iceland has made gender equality a core part of its domestic and foreign policies, linking progressive social justice policies to economic performance.",
    "The campaign for women’s equality in Iceland has combined legislative changes (sexual and reproductive freedoms), robust equality laws, and gender quotas for corporate boards with social-policy interventions.",
    "Universal childcare and shared parental leave are central policy instruments.",
    "Icelandic parental leave model (funded by government and businesses):",
    "The model has been implemented in stages since 2000.",
    "Publicly funded, high-quality day care now starts at the age of two, with gaps largely covered by subsidized childminders.",
    "Nordic shared parental leave schemes include a \"use-it-or-lose-it\" portion for both parents (including same-sex couples and adoptive parents).",
    "The government intends to extend the current entitlement further and to close gaps between parental leave and public day care provision.",
    "The combination of universal childcare and shared parental leave has:",
    "Labor market participation and unemployment:",
    "The extensive economic activity of all genders is identified as a key ingredient in Iceland’s economy.",
    "The gender pay gap still exists.",
    "Jobs typically held by women remain undervalued and underpaid.",
    "The labor market remains far too gender-segregated.",
    "Violence and harassment have not been eradicated.",
    "Children continue to be subjected to gender stereotypes.",
    "Full equality of rights and opportunities has not been achieved despite progress.",
    "Conventional economic dualism (expenses vs. investment) undervalues social infrastructure compared with physical infrastructure.",
    "Social infrastructure (education, childcare, health care) is essential and complementary to physical infrastructure for societal development.",
    "High childcare costs force mothers in lower-income groups to choose between family and work, perpetuating the gender pay gap.",
    "Family-friendly policies should be seen as integral to building a society where everyone can flourish, not as luxuries or profligate public spending.",
    "Continue expanding universal childcare and shared parental leave, including further entitlement extensions and aligning leave with public day care provision.",
    "Treat social infrastructure spending as investment in societal capacity and economic inclusion, not merely operating costs.",
    "Promote ideological vision, political struggle, and coordinated action by governments, businesses, and social groups to advance gender equality.",
    "Forge ahead with progressive economic policies that challenge stereotypes about costs and benefits and prioritize gender equality within a broader well-being and sustainability agenda (including participation in the group of Wellbeing Economy Governments).",
    "**وجهة نظر**",
    "**Construir una economía inclusiva ● Finanzas y Desarrollo ● Marzo de 2019**",
    "**Plaidoyer pour une économie inclusive**",
    "**Building an Inclusive Economy**",
    "**誰もが輝ける経済を築く; カトリーン・ヤコブスドッティル, ファイナンス＆ディベロップメント2019年3月号**",
    "**Создание инклюзивной экономики – Финансы и развитие – март 2019 года**",
    "**建立包容性经济 - 观点 - 金融与发展**"
  ],
  "related": [
    {
      "title": "وجهة نظر",
      "role": "document",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/ar/jakobsdottir.pdf",
      "summary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/ar/jakobsdottir.pdf.md",
        "mime": "text/markdown"
      },
      "binary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/ar/jakobsdottir.pdf",
        "mime": "application/pdf"
      }
    },
    {
      "title": "Construir una economía inclusiva ● Finanzas y Desarrollo ● Marzo de 2019",
      "role": "document",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/es/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir.pdf",
      "summary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/es/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir.pdf.md",
        "mime": "text/markdown"
      },
      "binary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/es/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir.pdf",
        "mime": "application/pdf"
      }
    },
    {
      "title": "Plaidoyer pour une économie inclusive",
      "role": "document",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/fr/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir.pdf",
      "summary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/fr/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir.pdf.md",
        "mime": "text/markdown"
      },
      "binary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/fr/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir.pdf",
        "mime": "application/pdf"
      }
    },
    {
      "title": "Building an Inclusive Economy",
      "role": "document",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir.pdf",
      "summary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir.pdf.md",
        "mime": "text/markdown"
      },
      "binary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir.pdf",
        "mime": "application/pdf"
      }
    },
    {
      "title": "誰もが輝ける経済を築く; カトリーン・ヤコブスドッティル, ファイナンス＆ディベロップメント2019年3月号",
      "role": "document",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/jp/jakobsdottir.pdf",
      "summary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/jp/jakobsdottir.pdf.md",
        "mime": "text/markdown"
      },
      "binary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/jp/jakobsdottir.pdf",
        "mime": "application/pdf"
      }
    },
    {
      "title": "Создание инклюзивной экономики – Финансы и развитие – март 2019 года",
      "role": "document",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/ru/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir.pdf",
      "summary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/ru/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir.pdf.md",
        "mime": "text/markdown"
      },
      "binary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/ru/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir.pdf",
        "mime": "application/pdf"
      }
    },
    {
      "title": "建立包容性经济 - 观点 - 金融与发展",
      "role": "document",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/zh/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir.pdf",
      "summary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/zh/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir.pdf.md",
        "mime": "text/markdown"
      },
      "binary": {
        "path": "/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/march/zh/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir.pdf",
        "mime": "application/pdf"
      }
    }
  ],
  "alternates": {
    "markdown": "/en/publications/fandd/issues/2019/03/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir/index.md",
    "json": "/en/publications/fandd/issues/2019/03/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir/index.json",
    "bundleManifest": "/en/publications/fandd/issues/2019/03/gender-equality-in-iceland-inclusive-economy-jakobsdottir/bundle-manifest.json"
  },
  "generatedAtUtc": "2026-09-15T04:30:48.672Z"
}