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Gender and Development: Introducing the Gender, Institutions and Development Data Base. Johannes Jütting and Denis Drechsler OECD Development Centre. Norway Ministry of Foreign Affairs Oslo 9 March 2007. I. Gender Equality Matters. Measuring Gender Equality: The GID-Data Base. II.
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Gender and Development:Introducing the Gender, Institutions and Development Data Base Johannes Jütting and Denis Drechsler OECD Development Centre Norway Ministry of Foreign Affairs Oslo 9 March 2007
I Gender Equality Matters Measuring Gender Equality: The GID-Data Base II Improving Gender Equality: What Can be Done? III Next Steps IV
I) Gender equality matters… • Gender equality = women and men have equal conditions for realising their full human rights and for contributing to, and benefiting from economic, social, cultural and political development. • Gender equality is an important goal in itself (MDG 3)… • … and also contributes to the achievement of other objectives: - stimulate growth and reduce poverty - reduce inequities - contribute to child development
… but what determines it? • Causalities between development and gender inequalities not clear • 2 main schools of thinking - Modernisation-neoclassical approach - Feminist thesis • Measurement problems: What? How?
Main messages • Apart from having an intrinsic value, gender equality is an untapped source that can boost economic growth • Improving gender equality needs to start with changing mindsets • Both messages are relevant for OECD and non-OECD countries • OECD countries: aging population, decline in the dependency ratio, double dividend from gender equality: increasing work force and improving demographics • Non-OECD countries: better human development, higher female labour force participation, more sustainable growth
Challenge in OECD countries:Reverse declining fertility Source: OECD (2005)
More women employed = More babies born Cross-country correlation between women employment rates and fertility rates between 1980 and 1999 Source: OECD (2005)
Previous analyses have mostly looked at women employment rates… Source: OECD (2005)
…while people’s mindsets are equally, if not more, important.
Gender equality can be a powerful source of economic development… Source: Gender, Institutions and Development Data Base, OECD (2006). Note: OECD-TOP refers to United States, Ireland, Norway, Iceland
…and can directly impact countries’ growth rates 4 Actual growth rate Projected growth rate 3 (percent) 2 1 0 Sub-Saharan Africa South Asia Middle East/North Africa Growth effect of closing the gender gap in schooling. Source: “Engendering Development”, in World Development Report 2000/01, “Attacking Poverty”, Washington: World Bank.
II) Measuring Gender Equality: The GID Data Base • A new tool for researchers and policy makers to: • quantify and measure gender equality • build indicators of gender equality • compare the status of women across countries • analyse obstacles to gender equality • Covers 161 countries and has 60 indicators • Includes institutional variables that range from intra-household behaviour to social norms
Methodological Framework Input Variables Output Variables Social Institutions (A) e.g. Family Code, Physical Integrity, Civil Liberties, Ownership Rights Economic Role of Women (D) Access to Resources (B) e.g. share of women in wage e.g. Health, Education employment in the non - agricultural sector Political Empowerment (C) e.g. seats in parliament held by women Source: Own Illustration.
Social Institutions and Female Labour Force Participation Source: GID Database
Social Institutions: Income Perspective Scale: 0 (minimum) to 1 (maximum) = level of discrimination through social institutions Source: GID Database
Social Institutions: Regional Perspective Scale: 0 (minimum) to 1 (maximum) = level of discrimination through social institutions Source: GID Database
The GID Data Base Online http://www.oecd.org/dev/institutions/GIDdatabase
III) Improving Gender Equality: What Can be Done? • OECD countries: • Change mindsets • Adapt policies to allow better work-family balance • Specific instruments: taxes, allowances, leave provision etc. • Non-OECD countries: • Improve data collection and monitor progress • Better understand local specificities • Ensure effective design and implementation of laws • Strengthen women’s voice • Communicate benefits of reforms
IV) Next Steps • Consolidate the data base • Data quality and variable selection • Composite indicators • Conduct country case studies • What social institutions impact gender equality? • How can they be measured? • Outreach and networking activities • International organisations and local statistical offices • Advocacy in donor and partner countries