The Economist argues that women are now the most powerful engine of global growth!
- The future of the world economy lies increasingly in female hands
- In rich countries, girls now do better at school than boys, and well over half of all university degrees are now being awarded to women.
- Almost everywhere, more women are employed and the percentage of men with jobs has fallen. In the emerging East Asian economies, for every 100 men in the labour force there are now 83 women, higher even than the average in OECD countries.
- Since 1970 women have filled two new jobs for every one taken by a man.
- Women make perhaps 80% of consumers’ buying decisions—from health care and homes to furniture and food.
- In years to come better-educated women will take more of the top jobs
- Researchers have also concluded that women make better investors than men
- In poor countries too, the under-utilisation of women stunts economic growth.
- There is strong evidence that educating girls boosts prosperity.
- Countries with high female labour participation rates, such as Sweden, tend to have higher fertility rates than Germany, Italy and Japan, where fewer women work.