Women's economic empowerment: key issues and policy options

The paper discusses the limits to markets as a means of overcoming 'durable inequalities' which reflect long-established power relations and the need for public action by states and civil society to address these underlying causes. The paper sketches out a number of areas where policies could make a difference, including a difference on the terms on which women can participate in, contribute to and benefit from processes of economic growth. They include; building women's human capital and capabilities, redistributing reproductive responsibilities, equalising property rights, mainstream women into the financial system and promoting gender-aware social protection.