ABOUT GEM-IWG

The International Working Group on Gender, Macroeconomics, and International Economics (GEM-IWG) is an international network of economists that was formed in 1994 for the purpose of promoting research, teaching, policy making and advocacy on gender-equitable approaches to macroeconomics, international economics and globalization. Some of their work can be found in World Development, December 1995, special issue on Gender, Adjustment and Macroeconomics and World Development, July 2000,special issue on Growth, Trade, Finance and Gender Inequalities. The first special issue, beyond showing that a variety of macroeconomic policies have different effects on men and women, demonstrated that gender inequality also shaped macroeconomic performance. The papers in the second issue explore further the relationship between gender inequality and macroeconomic outcomes and extend the analysis to incorporate international investment, and financial and trade liberalization.

GEM-IWG launched a Knowledge Networking Program on Gender, Macroeconomics and International Economics in the summer 2003 so as to promote research, teaching, policy making and advocacy by strengthening intellectual links among practitioners working on these issues. This summer course and conference program brings together economists from across the globe to discuss gender issues in economics. These economists continue working together under regional and thematic groups. Regional groups are organized by general global region, as GEM-Asia, GEM-LAC (Latin America and Caribbean), GEM-Africa, GEM-MENA (Middle East and North Africa), and GEM-Transition Economies. Thematic groups are organized by topic, including Employer of Last Resort, Curriculum Sharing, Time Use, Fiscal Policy, Decent Work, Trade, Microfinance, Migration, and Poverty. Regional and thematic groups work on projects and hold conferences on relevant issues.The GEM-LAC (Latin America and Caribbean) Conference was held on August 25, while an intensive course was held on August 28-September 8, 2006.

GEM-IWG also partners with sister organizations to hold conferences.A conference on Employment Guarantee policies: Theory and Practice was held at the Levy Institute on October 13-14, 2006. A conference on Unpaid Work and the Economy, a partnership with UNDP, GEM- IWG and the Levy Institute of Economics, was held in the Fall of 2005.