• October 9, 2019
  • Report

This report, prepared by Nathan for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Policy Support Unit, examines the process of structural reforms in APEC economies to remove barriers to women’s access to labor markets, finance, and capital.

The report highlights the importance of sex-disaggregated data to inform policy change and evaluate policy effectiveness. It reviews key reforms in employment discrimination and restrictions, pay equity, childcare and eldercare services, flexible work, financial inclusion, access to assets and capital, credit worthiness, and business development services.

Two case studies provide information on the process to reform and adopt new policies. The first case study examines the reform process to develop pay equity legislation in New Zealand, and the second follows the process to adopt a financial inclusion strategy in Mexico.

The report also offers recommendations to advance reform processes across APEC economies.

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