Economic Growth and Social Reproduction: Gender Inequality as Cause and Consequence

Corporate Author: 
Title: 
Economic Growth and Social Reproduction: Gender Inequality as Cause and Consequence
Document Type: 
Documents by United Nations Bodies and Agencies
Reference: 
(2015)
Annotation: 
This paper examines the nexus between structures of economic growth and social reproduction. Social reproduction is defined in terms of the time and money it takes to produce and maintain and invest in the labour force, so it includes both paid and unpaid work. Through analysis of data of macro mechanisms of growth and the distribution of social reproduction, the author develops four stylized regimes: time squeeze, mutual, wage squeeze, and exploitation. She then analyzes countries by economic structure, level of government, and structure of social welfare provisioning and determines their placement within the four stylized regimes of growth and social reproduction. The author states that without understanding the social and economic circumstances of social reproduction, creating positive change and policy is impossible. Further, the paper discusses the connection between social reproduction and gender inequality, and the subsequent macroeconomic policy outcomes of growth and development.