Report shows more work to be done on gender inequality

Economic gender equality has improved slightly and now stands at 60% worldwide, according to the latest Global Gender Gap Report from the World Economic Forum.

The report, which compares economic, political, educational and health-based criteria in 142 countries, has been published annually since 2006. In that time the gender gap has closed by 4%, meaning that at the current rate it will take until 2095 to achieve equality between men and women in the workplace.

The report found that the Nordic nations—Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark—are the five most equal countries. Elsewhere, Nicaragua climbed four places to reach sixth position, Rwanda entered the index for the first time at seventh, while the UK dropped from 18 to 26 following a fall in average wages.

In a blog post responding to the report, Helena Trachsel has suggested ways to promote gender equality in the workplace, including rethinking interview questions and promoting flexibility and work–life balance.

Our author Solomon W. Polachek has written about the effect of equal pay legislation on the gender pay gap in developed economies. He argues in favor of further policy intervention to promote equality, including repealing marriage taxes and promoting day care.

Today is International Equal Pay Day, which marks the average number of extra days in the year that women have to work to achieve the same wages that men have earned up until now.

Read more here. 

Related articles:
Equal pay legislation and the gender wage gap, by Solomon W. Polachek
Childcare subsidy policy: What it can and cannot accomplish, by Erdal Tekin