This module enables participants to establish a foundation in gender-responsive macroeconomics. Macroeconomics is typically seen to be gender and ecosystem blind: It examines the economic environment in general, but it is rarely, if ever, gender neutral. A gender analysis of macroeconomics underscores both how gender relations permeate macroeconomic concepts and how macroeconomic indicators only measure a portion of total economic activity, with important consequences for unpaid work, ecosystems and the environment, household well-being, and the accurate evaluation of macroeconomic policies. A gendered consideration of macro-economics is also an ecological consideration. In Asia and the Pacific, the relationship between women and the environment in which they live is fundamental to community well-being.

To help participants undertake a gender-responsive investigation of macroeconomics, the module introduces and elaborates on some key aspects of macroeconomics, including social accounting frameworks, the circular flow of income and product, domestic absorption, the multiplier, the accelerator and two-gap analysis. At the end of the module, participants should be able to evaluate a series of macroeconomic concepts by their gender content.

The Global Gender and Economic Policy Management Initiative (GEPMI) is a comprehensive capacity development and policy advisory services programme that aims to help economic policies and poverty reduction strategies deliver results equitably to women and men, girls and boys. In Asia and the Pacific, three-week courses on Gender-Responsive Economic Policy Management, which provided hands-on skills to middle-level government planning officials, parliamentary staff and civil society organization, were held in 2012-2013. The course consisted of twelve modules addressing the most critical gender issues in all aspects of economic development in Asia and the Pacific. The modules can be used as a complete set to run a full-scale course. They can also be used individually, tailored for immediate and specific capacity development and policy advisory support to meet a country’s particular needs.

Governments interested in a specific capacity building or policy advisory service can contact UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub (registry.th@undp.org) for immediate support.