Closing the Gender Gap: Act Now

Gender gaps are pervasive in all walks of economic life and imply large losses in terms of foregone productivity and living standards to the individuals concerned and the economy. This new OECD report focuses on how best to close these gender gaps under four broad headings: 1) Gender equality, social norms and public policies; and gender equality in 2) education; 3) employment and 4) entrepreneurship.

Key policy messages are as follows:
-Greater gender equality in educational attainment has a strong positive effect on economic growth;
-Stereotyping needs to be addressed in educational choices at school from a young age. For example, adapt teaching strategies and material to increase engagement of boys in reading and of girls in maths and science; encourage more girls to follow science, engineering and maths courses in higher education and seek employment in these fields;
-Good and affordable childcare is a key factor for better gender equality in employment. But change also has to happen at home as the bulk of housework and caring is left to women in many countries. Policy can support such change, for example, through parental leave policies that explicitly include fathers.
-Support policies for women-owned enterprises need to target all existing firms, not just start-ups and small enterprises. Equal access to finance for male and female entrepreneurs needs to be assured.

Table of Content :

Executive summary
Part I. Gender equality: The economic case, social norms and public policies
Chapter 1. The economic case for gender equality
Chapter 2. Why social institutions matter for gender equality
Chapter 3. Embedding gender equality in public policy
Part II. Gender equality in education
Chapter 4. Keeping girls and boys in school
Chapter 5. Aid in support of gender equality in education
Chapter 6. Whos good at what in school?
Chapter 7. Secondary school graduates: what next?
Chapter 8. Science versus the humanities
Chapter 9. Getting the job you studied for
Chapter 10. Financial education for financial empowerment
Part III. Gender equality in employment
Chapter 11. Who is in paid work?
Chapter 12. Does motherhood mean part-time work?
Chapter 13. A woman's worth
Chapter 14. The business case for women and addressing the leaky pipeline
Chapter 15. Women on boards
Chapter 16. Gender divides in the public domain
Chapter 17. Who cares?
Chapter 18. Supporting parents in juggling work and family
Chapter 19. Male and female employment in the aftermath of the crisis
Chapter 20. The hidden workers: Women in informal employment
Chapter 21. Women in retirement
Part IV. Gender equality in entrepreneurship
Chapter 22. Trends in women entrepreneurship
Chapter 23. Motivations and skills of women entrepreneurs
Chapter 24. Is there a gender gap in enterprise performance?
Chapter 25. Does entrepreneurship pay for women?
Chapter 26. Womens access to credit
Chapter 27. Financing female-owned enterprises in Partner countries
Chapter 28. Do women innovate differently?
Chapter 29. Formalising female-owned businesses