Selected Issues Papers

Unlocking the Work Force Potential: Empowering Women to Boost Economic Growth and Greek Prosperity

By Julia Cots-Capell, Larry Q Cui, Diego B. P. Gomes, Duncan MacDonald, Celine Thevenot, Katherine Dai

May 9, 2025

Download PDF More Formats on IMF eLibrary Order a Print Copy

Preview Citation

Format: Chicago

Julia Cots-Capell, Larry Q Cui, Diego B. P. Gomes, Duncan MacDonald, Celine Thevenot, and Katherine Dai. "Unlocking the Work Force Potential: Empowering Women to Boost Economic Growth and Greek Prosperity", Selected Issues Papers 2025, 056 (2025), accessed May 12, 2025, https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229010818.018

Export Citation

  • ProCite
  • RefWorks
  • Reference Manager
  • BibTex
  • Zotero
  • EndNote

Summary

The strong recent economic recovery has improved Greece’s near-term outlook. However, unfavorable demographics require raising the labor force participation, particularly for women, to boost medium-term growth. Using household survey, cross-country comparison, and model simulations, we identify three main constraints: (i) care responsibilities; (ii) skill mismatches; and (iii) tax-benefit work incentives. Estimates suggest that addressing care responsibilities alone could boost employment by 3 percent. Policy recommendations include expanding access to childcare facilities, improving parental leave policies, strengthening tax-benefit incentives, and addressing skill mismatches. These measures, combined with complementary reforms could significantly empower women to boost economic growth and prosperity in Greece.

Subject: Education, Employment, Gender, Gender inequality, Income, Labor, Labor force, Labor force participation, Labor markets, Marginal effective tax rate, National accounts, Tax policy, Wages, Women

Keywords: Employment, Female Labor Participation, Gender inequality, Greece, Income, Labor force, Labor force participation, Labor markets, Labor supply, Marginal effective tax rate, Self-employment, Structural Reform, Tax Benefit Simulation, Wages, Women

Publication Details