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Trade Drives Gender Equality and Development
Article

Trade Drives Gender Equality and Development

IMF, 2023


Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Eye Opening
  • Visionary
  • Engaging

Recommendation

Open trade and reform policies that facilitate more efficient labor markets and afford workers new opportunities benefit everyone, but particularly women in developing economies, according to economists Nadia Rocha and Roberta Piermartini. In this astute analysis, the authors note that tariffs, protectionism and other obstacles hinder women’s economic advancement. Rocha and Piermartini offer ideas for labor market policies that will help women learn new skills, expand their education, and increase their mobility and access to regions offering better employment opportunities.

Take-Aways

  • Gender equality is a basic human right and an economic priority.
  • Gender parity benefits women and economies in numerous ways.
  • Policy reforms can help eliminate economic discrimination.
     

About the Authors

Nadia Rocha is a lead economist at the World Bank. Roberta Piermartini is chief of trade cost analysis at the World Trade Organization.