World development report 2012: Gender Equality and Development
The main message of this year’s World Development Report: Gender
Equality and Development is that these patterns of progress and persistence in
gender equality matter, both for development outcomes and policy making. They
matter because gender equality is a core development objective in its own
right. But greater gender equality is also smart economics, enhancing productivity
and improving other development outcomes, including prospects for the next
generation and for the quality of societal policies and institutions. Economic
development is not enough to shrink all gender disparities—corrective policies
that focus on persisting gender gaps are essential.
This Report points to four priority areas for policy going forward. First,
reducing gender gaps in human capital—specifi cally those that address female
mortality and education. Second, closing gender gaps in access to economic
opportunities, earnings, and productivity. Third, shrinking gender differences
in voice and agency within society. Fourth, limiting the reproduction of gender
inequality across generations. These are all areas where higher incomes by
themselves do little to reduce gender gaps, but focused policies can have a
real impact.
Source: publications.worldbank.org/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=0&products_id=24229
