IMF joins call to boost the economic role of women

Tokyo

THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has joined other international organisations in urging governments around the world in recognising that global economic growth is being held back by official policies, laws and other restrictions limiting the role of women in economic activity.

In a report published on Monday, the IMF said "gender gaps caused by these restrictions have macro-critical effects in terms of impact on GDP". Raising female labour force participation could increase gross domestic product by a one-off 5 per cent in the US, by 9 per cent in Japan and by more dramatic levels in certain other countries, it said.