On the day when the whole world celebrates women, Francesca Bettio (full professor of economic policy at the University of Siena and coordinator of the European network ENEGE - European Network of Experts on Gender Equality) answers questions from FIRSTonline. “Encouraging the presence of women in the labor market does not only correspond to principles of equal opportunities – explains the economist – but also to objectives of economic efficiency. Let's see together why."
FIRST online – First of all, an overview of the level of female employment in Italy. What are the figures and where are we in terms of achieving the European objectives?
FRANCESCA BETTIO – The Lisbon strategy envisaged that, by 2010, the objective of 60% female employment would be reached in Europe and possibly in all the member states; the reference age range was 15-64 years. We are currently at 46,4% and in Europe 27 we are third from last (after us, Greece and Malta). After the Lisbon strategy, the Europe 2020 strategy arrived which set goals that were far too ambitious and, at times, unclear. The percentage of employment to be achieved is 75% (the age range is 20-64 years) but the objective to aim for includes both male and female employment. They have chosen an average global figure that can be interpreted in different ways: for example, a country could get close to the target set by increasing only male employment. This is the ambiguity.
FIRST online – We now come to the research that demonstrates the causal link between the increase in female employment and the increase in gross domestic product. Can you explain it to us?
BETTIUS – According to the latest estimates on the matter, the achievement of the famous 60% target would mechanically lead to an increase in GDP of 7 percentage points. And there are three factors we need to consider. In the first place, the measurement problem: women who do not work for the market (and who therefore do not fall within that 46,4%) do not sit around at home all day; they work too. But the fruit of their work is not quantified and does not contribute to the gross domestic product. Here, however, when the woman begins to work for the market, there is a shift of work from a sector in which it is not quantified to a sector where it is instead counted. Second factor: we are talking about a lack of use of an existing resource and we are referring, for example, to education. Now women are more educated than men, I'm not saying a novelty. And, if some of them don't contribute to the country's economy, the resources that have been employed and invested in their education go to waste. Finally, the third factor, we can analyze productivity in the strict sense. Economic growth – history teaches it – in many cases has occurred because there has been the transition from a home-grown business to one made on the market. Let me give the example of textiles: before there were looms at home and women who sewed; when the business was "exported" to the market, productivity more than increased and textiles became an industrial sector. So the point is that, when women leave the house and go to work outside, a certain type of occupation moves from the family environment to the market and automatically increases productivity. With it, wealth.
FIRST online – In Italy some of the activities you mention have basically remained confined to the walls of the house. For example, childcare, elderly and disabled care services?
BETTIUS – You have focused precisely on the most critical and, at the same time, most potentially productive sector. The care services have not only remained within the home but also on the shoulders of the women. Partly for economic reasons, partly for cultural reasons.
FIRST online – So, following your reasoning, if we exported more of this type of service from the home to the market, would productivity increase?
BETTIUS - Exact. In particular, care for the elderly is an incredible opportunity in Italy. I'll explain, with a few figures, the extent of the phenomenon. A Community report has calculated that, by around 2020, there could be 5 million more people in Europe requiring assistance. For Italy, a colleague of mine and I have made an estimate, a bit rough, but consistent with demographic forecasts: in our country the elderly, with at least one disability, are destined to rise to around 4 and a half million in 2050 , compared to the 2 estimated for 700. If we do the math and say that, for all these elderly people, we provide assistance for 2010 hours a week, the following estimate emerges: from 10 to 2010, 2050 jobs would be created part time or about 860 full time. And I add that three other sectors capable of this type of employment increase would be enough to bring the female employment rate to 500% in 2050. This would be enough.
FIRST online – That seems a little too easy.
BETTIUS – The basic problem is that in Italy we need to understand that the service sector is a very important employment engine. In the United States they know this well. And, in addition to being relevant, it is a sector that easily (by its nature) drives women's employment. Let's transform our weaknesses into opportunities and start talking more about some sectors, such as care for the elderly, which must necessarily be translated into industrial policies.
