Gender, Macroeconomics and the International Financial Institutions | Heinrich Böll Stiftung | Washington, DC Office

Why This Special Web Dossier?

Overview of Resources:
» Directory of Modules
» Economic Literacy Modules
» Education Techniques
» Glossary of Terms
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In August 2007, the Heinrich Böll Foundation brought some 65 women and men from 37 countries to Washington, D.C. for our 5th international Summer School on Engendering Economics in a Globalizing World. In an intensive,7-day work program (pdf) focused on the International Financial Institutions (IFIs), they explored the economic policies behind the traditional "neo-liberal" growth agenda of these institutions that are embodied in what is often called The Washington Consensus. These policies form the centerpiece of the conditions for loans and debt relief as well as advice given by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and regional development banks. Participants also studied gendered critiques of these policies and alternative policies and macroeconomic models that could be used to advance social and gender equality, ecological sustainability, and reduce poverty globally.

The goal of the 2007 hbf Summer School was two-fold. One: to encourage women's groups and feminist activists with no previous experience of economic issues to include economic policy advocacy within their agenda. Second: to encourage economists and development advocates to adopt a gender lens in their work. It brought together activists, leading feminist economists and development practitioners from civil society and governments of all regions of the world.

In order to assist participants with continuing to disseminate the information and insights shared at the Summer School, but more importantly, to make the knowledge and tools for advocating for more gender-aware and socially inclusive macroeconomic policy more widely available, we are delighted to offer this web-based economic literacy dossier on Gender, Macroeconomics and the IFIs. I would like to offer my deepest thanks to Pamela Sparr for her tremendous energy, patience and insights and for her invaluable help in shaping and realizing this dossier.

This web dossier has two primary components -readings and information resources culled from diverse sources and a set of 17 economic literacy modules based on the main themes of the 2007 hbf Summer School on engendering economics. The selection of topics thus does not make any claim to be complete - many issues that undoubtedly could be included here, but have not (yet?) been covered. Information sharing is a continuous process, and this dossier is but a start.

I encourage you to explore the tremendous resources located here. This is a work in progress, so we hope you share with us your thoughts and experiences using them. We'd love to hear from you. Feel free to use, share, alter, and amend the materials of this web dossier for your work and purposes.

Liane Schalatek, Associate Director
Heinrich Böll Foundation North America
Liane[at]boell.org

Directory of Modules

For “building blocks” to frame your analysis, consider using:
Module 1: basic intro to macroeconomic theory and policies
Module 2: basic intro to a gender analysis
Module 3: introduces a gender critique of standard macroeconomic theory and policies (also known as the “Washington Consensus”)
Module 13: deepens the analysis in Module 3

For gendered macroeconomic analysis and alternative policies in particular subject areas:
Module 4: introduces the tool of gender budgeting (for national governments)
Module 10: looks at gender and fiscal policies, including taxation
Module 9: looks at gender and monetary policies, with a focus on inflation and employment
Module 6: a basic introduction of gender and trade
Module 7: a basic introduction of gender and investment
Module 8: a more advanced look at the linkages between trade and finance
Module 5: a basic look at gender and debt

For how the IFIs work and their impact generally:
Module 5: a basic look at gender and debt
Module 11: a more historical and empirical look at IFIs and their impact
Module 12: an overview of the mission and structure of IFIs
Module 10: could be used to look at the various points in a national governments’ budgetary cycle and how the IFIs can intervene

For the IFIs’ gender policies and holding them accountable:
Module 12: IFIs’ mission and structure
Module 13: IFIs’ rationale for and consequences for not using feminist gendered economic policies (may be better to use design Option B in the instructions for this purpose)
Module 14: Gender policies at the World Bank Group and IMF
Module 15: Gender policies at the regional development banks
Module 16: Accountability mechanisms at the World Bank Group and IMF
Module 17: Accountability mechanisms at the regional development banks

For a basic gendered analysis of the political and economic agenda of the IFIs:
Module 5: debt
Module 6: trade
Module 7: investment

For a more advanced look at specific aspects of the political and economic agenda of the IFIs:
Module 8: trade and finance linkages
Module 9: inflation and employment
Module 10: fiscal policy, with a focus on taxation