Higher Growth When More Women Work

Christine Lagarde

“Employers who don’t offer equal opportunities to women simply ignore a large part of the skilled workforce. In many countries, growth could be much higher if more women were in paid employment. In Japan, for example, raising the female labour force participation rate to Northern European levels would permanently raise per capita GDP by 8 per cent. Women also have great entrepreneurial potential. For instance, women-owned companies represent between 30 and 40 per cent of formal small and medium-sized enterprises in emerging markets. Also, raising women’s incomes will improve education levels, as research shows that women spend a larger share of their income on the welfare of their children.”

Christine Lagarde, President, IMF

International Women’s Day, March 8th 2013


You may have an interest in also reading…

From Solo Star to Team Captain: An Accidental Manager’s Journey

Suddenly shunted into the C-suite, or find yourself the foreman of your former colleagues? Don’t panic… They were the top

Cornelius Vanderbilt: The ‘Commodore’ Who Steamed Straight Ahead to Glory

In the annals of American corporate history, Cornelius Vanderbilt was a true legend: a self-made billionaire who rose from humble

Banks and Work-Life Balance: A Step in the Right Direction

How BNY Mellon’s Recharge Period Sets a New Benchmark for Employee Well-Being The finance industry and work-life balance have long